Norton Introduces Three Bills to Modernize Smithsonian and Ensure Transparency in Operation

Norton Introduces Three Bills to Modernize Smithsonian and Ensure Transparency in Operation

May 4, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced three bills to make the first significant changes in the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Modernization Act makes changes to the Smithsonian's governance structure by expanding its Board of Regents from 17 members, which today includes six Members of Congress, the Vice President of the United States, and the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to 21 members, comprised exclusively of private citizens. This bill takes important steps to rescue the Smithsonian from the antiquated 19th century governance structure that makes it overly dependent on scarce federal funds, and prevents it from accessing private resources and limits transparent oversight. The bill would, however, preserve and strengthen the traditional role of the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and the President of the United States in selecting members of the Board.

Norton also introduced a companion bill, the Open and Transparent Smithsonian Act, to further ensure that the Smithsonian Institution is accountable to the public for the taxpayer funds it receives, and to provide that, for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act, the Smithsonian is considered a federal agency. The third bill introduced today, the Smithsonian Free Admission Act, would reinforce a 170-year old Smithsonian policy to make certain that the permanent exhibits at the Smithsonian's 17 museums and art galleries remain free to the public, following fees that were imposed on the Butterfly Pavilion exhibit.

Norton said, "The Smithsonian Institution, with its vast array of world-class museums, art galleries, research facilities, educational showplaces, and the National Zoo, is unparalleled in the world. Congress keeps adding new museums to the Smithsonian. Congress has an equal responsibility to take steps to give the Smithsonian access to the private-sector funding that is central to arts institutions the world over, to ensure the transparency and accountability we require of federal agencies, and to ensure that free admissions for the public remains intact."