The committee of House Administration will come to order. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection the chair may declare recess at any time. Also without objection the meeting will remain open for 5 legislative days and members can submit any materials they wish to be in. Thank you members of the committee, secretary bunch for joining us for todays hearing. The Smithsonian Institution is the Worlds Largest educational complex comprised of museums, Educational Resources and research services. The smithsonian preserves heritage and history while sharing knowledge with the world. 21 museums and roughly 137 million objects in this collection visitors have abundance of history and heritage to explore. The smith oh onian receives 1. 14 billion from the federal government in the last fiscal year. Twothirds of its total budget and 4,000 fulltime employees. Today the committee on House Administration which is charged with conducting oversight of the Smithsonian Institution will discus
[inaudible conversations] the committee on House Administration will come to order. I note a quorum is present without objection c the chair my declare a racist at any time but also that objection the meeting record will remain open for five legislative days so members may submit any materials they wish to be included therein. Thank you Ranking Member, members of the committee and s secretary for joining us for todays hearing. The Smithsonian Institution are the largest educational complex comprised of museums Educational Resources and services. The sodium preserves our heritage and history while sharing its knowledge with the world for each year millions of americans visit the Smithsonian Museum of each joint each of the spaces and Educational Opportunities the smithsonian provides. Roughly 137s objects in its collection visitors have an abundance of history and heritage to explore paid the smithsonian receives 1. 14 billion to the federal government in the last fiscal year. Two third
To resurrect old friendships and to be historians. Ofan what is the breadth the kind of historians who attend . James it includes college undergraduates, college professors, graduate students, high school teachers, people who are not professional historians but are interested in history. And think it is interesting to time talking and listening to historians. It includes historian to work for the federal government, who work in museums, think tanks. Even people who have advanced degrees in history that are working and doing other things. Susan if we had dropped into this conference 10 years ago, what would be different then versus what is happening now . James first of all, the diversity i just described would be different. The number of undergrads is unprecedented. We worked especially hard this year in trying to bring undergraduates to our conference. They have a special poster competition. We have k12 teachers then we used to have. We definitely have a lot more people with advanced
We appreciate your staff bringing you in. Before i make my opening statement, we all have had an opportunity to look at some of the coolest things here. It is a bit unusual for a Committee Hearing to have a smithsonian artifact here. Everybody will have a chance to take a look at the mall. They are really unbelievable. You have some meteorites here. Sort of makes you think dress part. Think of jurassic park. We have the first artificial heart. A picture of harriet tubman. Somebody took a lot of pride in keeping that picture. Everyone will have a chance to take a look at these artifact. We thought it would be a way to set the stage for what goes on. When i leave here im going to try to get a job at the smithsonian, it is difficult to you today we are holding this hearing to discuss the current priorities of the Smithsonian Institution, as well as challenges and opportunities on the horizon. Congress established the Smithsonian Institution in 18 46 to carry out the will of anger scientis
Possible hazing case. The history of allegations at the fraternitys chapters and what the National Organization has done about them. Caught on camera. Ferris wheel fall. Oh, my god. A fair worker trying to rescue two small boys taking a terrifying plunge. Oh, my god. Oh, my god the parents petrified. I felt helpless and it was the scariest moment. How everyone is doing this morning. Good sunday morning, everyone. As we come on the air, police in florida are now letting people who live in the lower keys return home. Its been an anguishing wait for a lot of people. Theyve been lining up on the highway which is just opening now. Theyre finally going to get a chance to see what happened to their homes. News they dont want to hear this morning. Theyve got to keep an eye on the atlantic where three storms are currently brewing. One of them is likely to hit some of the islands that have already been decimated by irma. Were going to start with rob keeping his eye on the three storms in the atl