This hearing providing oversight to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1836, congress accepted the quest from an english scientist who never visited the United States but nevertheless decided to leave his substantial fortune to our country for the increased knowledge. Ten years later in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was formally established by congress. In the 173 years since, the smithsonian has grown to a complex of 19 museums, Numerous Research centers, Library Systems and a network of more than 200 affiliate organizatio organizations, archives and the national zoo. Today the smithsonian serves as a steward to more than 154 billion artifacts, works of art and specimens. Visitors from across the country and around the world flock to see this broad collection, and in 2018 alone there were nearly 29 million visitors to the smithsonian. The smithsonian also works around the world to advance critical scientific discoveries and research. Earlier this year thanks in large part to the astrophysical observatory leadership, the first ever image of a black hole was unveiled. I was so honored to meet the scientist who affiliated with the smithsonian responsible for that photograph. Just last week we learned the smithsonian researchers in the amazon discovered a new species of electric eel described as the most powerful ever. The smithsonian in detention however is not without challenges as it continues to work through the Strategic Plan that we discussed back in the 2017 committee hearing. These challenges need to be addressed to carry out its mission to increase and diffuse knowledge and include deferred maintenance including deferred maintenance backlog, approaching nearly a billionce dollars, the shortage of Storage Place them in sufficient diversity among the staff and leadership and inadequate Information Technology security. If a smithsonian is also in the midst of ath largescale renovation of the national air and space museum. The challenges exist in the context of the transition. Oh by the smithsonian which as of june of this year as a new secretary and we are honored to have secretary joining us this morning for the first appearance before congress as the secretary. In addition to these challenges, there are a number of congressional proposals for the museums have various levels of maturity. These include 1980, the representative ohlones Smithsonian History Museum act and the Representatives National museum on the american latino act. These proposals would establish an American Museum of womens history, and at the museum of american Latino History respectively. Similar to the authorizing legislation for the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, these proposals contemplate a combination of federally appropriated and privately raised funds to finance the construction of the Museum Buildings and perfectly smithsonian to a director to manage the museum. This consideration of the proposals as well. Before i introduce t the witnesses, i would like to recognize the ring and member for any comments he would like on the institution oversight hearing. Welcome, mr. Davis. Thank you for holding the hearing and welcome to both Witnesses Today testifying for the firstha time before the committee. Its not that scary. We certainly hope you will come back and i want to thank you for bringing one of my most famous constituents in springfield illinois. They might be able to vote but not in springfield. We have before us an opportunity here from you and i am really honored that you have become secretary, and i certainly look forward to working with you. The success in the apollo 50 on the mall in july was a welldeserved tribute to the mission and inspirational recognition of the proud moment in the nations history. Since its establishment in 86, the smithsonian has become the Largest Museum education and Research Complex entity edition preserves and celebrates the nations Cultural Heritage and advances thead scientific discovery in multiple disciplines. On behalf of the American People, congress, the board of regents and management we have a responsibility to ensure the continued success of the institution for future generations. Making the collections First Class Research into materials accessible to americans across the country, not just those who visit washington, d. C. Thats needs to be a fundamental part of the strategy moving forward. Im particularly pleased that my former boss and mentor serves on the board of regents. His experience as a former educator allows them to provide owthe smithsonian with unique perspectives to help advance the strategy. I look forward to hearing from you on your vision for achieving this goal and them technicians other priority is. It is a large and complex organization with 19 Museums National zoo possible Research Centers and an international presence, the smithsonian also faces significant risks and challenges. First is the smithsonians current 900 milliondollar renovation from one of the worlds most visited museums that happened to be my boys favored the national air and space facility on the National Mall thats being done while a portion of it remains open thanks only to the public. Additionally, an increase in maintenance backlog that is just over a billion dollars furthermore, inadequate space for collections and finally reports identified muchneeded security improvements and i welcome the Inspector Generals comments on these and other risks facing the institution and look forward to discussing the approach to addressing them. It is an undertaking that should be carefully considered to ensure success with the experience as the founding director of the museum of africanAmerican History and culture and we are hopeful the secretary can provide the committee with insight and the issues surrounding the establishment of the museums and the keys to success in doing so you finally, i am excited about the possibility of your visiting springfield illinois. In my district which happens to be the site of the 1908 race riots in the birthplace of the naacp the community would love to have you view the artifacts that are actually being excavated right now and tour the site which the department of interior just determined was suitable for the designation as a National Historic monument. So, thank you and i look forward to hearing from the witness today and yield back. Other members Opening Statements i would like to knows we have in the audience today congresswoman maloney who is the author of the womens History Museum to which now has a sufficient number of cosponsors to actually pass the house. So, welcome, representativere maloney. In the current position he isnt new to the smithsonian. From 2005 until this year he served as the director of the smithsonian National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture spectacular museum and people have not yet visited. When he started the job in 2005, he had one staff member, no collections and no dedicated museum sites they welcome more than a collection of 40,000 objects that are housed and is the first Green Building in the National Mall as the associate director for the affairs of the National Museum of American History during his career and also an accomplished author having written on topics ranging from the american presidency to diversity and museum management. His most recent work is about his experience creating the africanamerican History Museum, a g crowning glory of an achievement for you and we are so honored after the hearing he has brought artifacts for us to look at since 2014 she is responsible for conducting the audits and investigations into keeping the board of regents in congress informed about problems and deficiencies promoting efficiency and effectiveness within the smithsonian and preventing and detecting fraud, wastesp and abuse. He also serves as the vice chair of the Audit Committee of the councils Inspector General and as the chair of the small group of Inspector Generals who meets quarterly to exchange ideas. Before joining, he worked as the deputy Inspector General of the u. S. Government Accountability Office where she helped lead the audit and investigative programs. Ve welcome to both of todays witnesses and we thank you so much for coming. At this time, i would ask unanimous consent all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks involve statements may be made part of the record and without objection that is so ordered. I will remind the witnesses the statements will be made a part of the record and we ask that you summarize your statement about five minutes and when it is nearing the little light will turn yellow and when its red means there are five minutes so we would ask you to wind it up. The record will remain open for these five days for additional materials and questions to be submitted so now we will turn to you, welcome and we are eager to hear your testimony. Thank you so much, chairperson, Ranking Member davis and members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My tenure as the secretary of the smithsonian has been only a few shortyo months but as you mentioned my relationship in this institution goes back to when i was a 26yearold kid. I was so honored to serve as the founding director of the museum of africanAmerican History and culture and i am more than pleased in fact im humbled to assume the role as the secretary of the institution. The smithsonian greatly appreciates the continued support of congress, thet administration and the American People and we take seriously the crucial role we play in advancing the civic educational and scientific life of the nation. Our goal was to reach in reach a meaningful way is at least 1 billion people worldwide. Nothing replaces the artifacts we have on display that we need to reach millions who cannot visit us in person using all the Digital Tools available to us. Ch i am committed to achieving this goal while protecting and securing our Digital Assets and those that will be used in the technology. Cultural institutions are uniquely equipped to inspire, and we magnify that ability when we truly reflect the tapestry of humanity. The smithsonian is committed to increasing, attracting and developing a diverse and talented workforce. I am pleased congress supported the goal of telling more expensive representative stories i shepherding legislation that advocates for new museums. If congress deems it to symbian rest of the American Public to authorize the smithsonian to build a new museum and provides the necessary additional funding for th that purpose and appropriates the means for am operation, then we will create a museum that exceeds all expectations. The museum that builds on the standards of excellence set by the smithsonian but in the interim the institution is committed to making every single Smithsonian Museum and program more inclusivee and more representative of the nations population. It is as you pointed out also crucially important that we recognize the smithsonians pressing infrastructure and collections needs a demand of her immediate and ongoing attention. We so appreciate the support of congress and the renovation ofof the national air and space museum and just as important we are grateful for the ongoing support of the maintenance needs throughout the institutions. Regarding the History Museum, legislation, both the house and senate bills largely mirror the successful model employed by the museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Both bills call to construct the museum of 50 federal and require the smithsonian to raise 50 from nonfederal sources. Legislation i has also introduc, calling to create a National Museum of the american latino in y der to showcase the life, history and culture of american latinos and their contribution to the United States. This legislation also follows the model of ther National Museum. O while i do have experience with private fundraising, and a more than willing to advocate for private funds, it is simply impossible to pursue projects of this magnitude without explicit appropriations of the federal funding for the projects at their very genesis. If authorized and funded by congress, we would be honored to give these to the smithsonian family. As the congres a congress makeso liberations, we will work diligently to to tell a broader, more complete story with our resources. An example, if this desire is our american womens History Initiative because of her story, which was launched in 2018. Because of the story and the paradigm shift, it allowed the entire smithsonian to wrestle with how issues and gender have shaped the american experience. We are grateful to congress for their support. We are also so proud to be able to unveil in the fall of 2021 the first gallery to explore the latino culture to open on the National Mall, and we work very hard to make sure they Smithsonian Center that was to defer the pacific americans continues to research, build collections, do exhibitions and programsti come and they are alo fundraising for the first gallery dedicated to them. The institution has been conducted groundbreaking research in science and reproducing animals from around the world and the national habitat. Ultimately, what i want to do is say that museums are more important now than ever because of their ability to serve as trusted sources of information. This chairman and Ranking Member and chairman thank you for the opportunity to talk about the Inspector General of oversight of the smithsonian the mission is to promote the efficiency and effectiveness and integrity of the subsiding and programming operations. We do this through independent objective audits and investigations. I will look about collections management and security. Our office has done extensive work with collection stewardship we reported in 2015 that the smithsonian faces challenges to fully implement the plan that is to ensure the Proper Storage of collections because of the estimated cost more than 1 billion over c 30 years and the need to balance competing demands to fund other Capital Projects. Currently we are assessing inventory controls of the newest museum National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. The smithsonian also faces challenges to address deferred maintenance for itse s facilities. Because it is spending less than the recommended amounts to maintain those facilitiesie and the smithsonian had a deferred maintenance backlog approaching 1 billion. Deferring maintenance can reduce the overall life of the facility and lead to higher cost in the long term. Eventually deferred maintenance requires a major Capital Investment in fact the 650 milliondollar Capital Project to revitalize the nasa museum has more than 250 million of deferred maintenance. Security is also a challenge. Technology security is a growing risk all of all organizations. Those breaches cost money, disrupt operations o , andy road public trust each year our office evaluates the teInformation TechnologySecurity Program. While it has made steady progress of improving this program it is not yet fully effective. In addition, the Security Program helps to ensure the individuals responsible for the smithsonian collectio collection, securities and financial aspects have that appropriate character and conduct to be associated with thee smithsonian. Individuals that receive preemployment backgroundnd investigationn but it has no assurance that there is the postemployment investigation that the smithsonian has one third of the program cost if it had use the automated tool to determine the appropriate t level of investigation for retail employees. We also found Computer Network access has been granted to individuals who have not received background investigations. Finally, in todays world, the importance of a skilled, welltrained Security Guard force is more important than