Ms. Lofgren the committee will come to order and want to welcome everyone on this hearing of providing oversight of Smithsonian Institution. Scientist english never visited the United States and decided to leave his fortunate tune. 10e years later in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was established by congress. In the 173 years since, the smithsonian has grown to a complex of 19 mumse,ry Search Centers and Library Centers and 200 affiliate organizations, archives and the national zoo. Today, the smithsonian serves as stewards to 15 million works of art and specimens. Visitors from across the country and around the world flock to see this broad collection and in 2018, there were 29 million visitors. The smithsonian works with entities to have research. Earlier this year, thanks in large part to the significant seasonian leadership, the first ever image of the black hole was unveiled to the public. I was honored to meet the scientist who was responsible for that photo. Last week, we learned that the significant seasonian researchers in the amazon discovered an electric eel described as the most powerful ever. The institution is not without challenges as it continues to work through the Strategic Plan we discussed back in our 2017 committee hearing. These challenges need to be address for the institution to diffuse knowledge and include a deferred maintenance backlog approaching a million dollars, hortage space and insufficient diversity and inadequate Information Technology security. The smithsonian is in the midst of a renovation of the national air and space museum. These challenges exist in the transition period in the significant seasonian which has a new secretary and we are honored to have secretary bunch join us for his first appearance before us. In addition to these challenges, there are a number of congressional proposals for new mums at various levels. These proposals include h. R. 980, representative maloney, womens history and National Museum of the american latinos. These proposals would establish a museum of american of womens story and museum of american latinos. These proposals contemplate a combination of federally appropriated and privately raised funds to finance the construction of Museum Buildings and direct the smithsonian to appoint a director to manage the museum. This committee this hearing will inform the committee of the proposals as well. Before i introduce our witnesses, i would like to recognize our Ranking Member for his comments on the Smithsonian Institution oversight hearing. Thank you, mr. Davis. Mr. Davis thank you, chairwoman lofgren, for holding this hearing and thank you to the witnesses who are testifying for the first time before the committee. Its not that scary, sit . We hope you will come back. I do want to thank you, secretary bunch, for bringing the kansas of the hands of one of my most famous constituents from springfield, illinois. In some places in illinois, abe lincoln might still be able to vote but not in springfield. We have before us an opportunity to hear from you and i am really honored that youve become secretary and i certainly look forward to working with you. The apollo 50 event on the mall was a welldeserved tribute to the apollo 11 mission and a well deserved moment of recognition for a proud moment in our nations history. Since its establishment, the smithsonian has become the Worlds Largest museum, education, and research complex. It celebrates and preserve ours nations Cultural Heritage and advances scientific skfry in multiple disciplines. On behalf of the american people, congress, the board of regents and the smithsonian management, you have a responsibility to ensure the continued success of the institution for future generations. The smithson ma the smithsonian has a broad mission, the increase an diffusion of knowledge. The goal is to reach one billion people a year through a Digital First strategy, making the smithsons collections, First Class Research and empowering materials accessible to people across the country, not just those who visit washington, d. C. That needs to be a fundamental part of the institutions strategy moving forward. Excuse me. I particularly am pleased that my former boss and mentor, congressman john shimkus, serves on the board of regents. His experience as a former educator allows him to provide the smithsonian with unique perspectives to advance this strategy. I look forward to hearing from you on your vision of achieving the goal and other priorities. As a large, complex organization with 19 museums and the national zoo, multiple reSearch Centers and an international presence, the smithsonian also faces significant risks and challenges. First to mind is the smithsons renovation of one of the most visited museums, happens to be my twin bys favorite thembing national eyre and space facility on the National Mall. Thats being done while a portion remains open to the visiting public. Additionally, an increasing maintenance backlog thats just over 1 billion. Furthermore, inadequate Storage Space for collections. Finally, reports have identified muchneeded i. T. Security improvements and i welcome the Inspector Generals comments on these and other risks facing the commugs and look forward to discussing the smithson yeas approach to addressing them. Establishing a new museum is a complex undertaking and should be carefully considered to its success. Were hopeful that secretary bunch can provide insight into the issues surrounding the museums and the keys to success in doing. So finally, secretary bunch, im excited about the possibility of your visiting springfield, illinois, in my district, which happens to be the site of the 1908 race riots and the birth place of the naacp. The community would love to have you view the significant artifacts that are being excavated right now and tour the site which the department of interior just determined was suit frble designation as a National Historic monument. So thank you, i look forward to hearing from our witness today and i yield back, madam chair. Ms. Lofgren the gentleman yields back. Other members Opening Statements will be policed in the record. We have in our audience today a congresswoman in the audience today, congresswoman carolyn maloney, author of the Womens History Museum bill which nows has a sufficient number of cosponsors to actually pass the house. Welcome, representative maloney. Id like to welcome our witnesses now. Joining us this morning are secretary of the smithsonan lonnie bunch and the smithsonian Inspector General, kathy helm. Secretary bunch is the 14th secretary of the sith month sithsonian and the first africanamerican to lead the institution. He assumed the role of secretary in june, 2019. While secretary bunch is new to his current position, hes not new to the smithsonian from 2005 until this year, he served as director of the smithsons smithsonians National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, a spectacular museum and if people have not yet visited i recommend you do. So when he started that job in 2005, mr. Bunch had one staff member, no collections, and no dedicated museum site. Thanks to his leadership since the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture opened in 2016, its welcomed more than five million visitors, compiled a collection of 40,000 objects that are housed in the first Green Building on the National Mall. He served as president of the Chicago Historical society, as associate director for the curetorial affairs at the National Museum of American History during his career and hes also an accomplished author, having written on topics ranging from the american presidency to diversity in museum management. His most recent work, a fools errand is about his experience creating the africanamerican History Museum, yale really, a crowning glory of an achievement for you, sir. Were so honored, after the hearing hes brought some artifacts from the smithsonian for us to look at which are really something special. Please do take the time after the hearing to take a look at them. Cathy helm has been serving as Inspector General for the Smithsonian Institution since 2014. Shes responsible for conducting audits and investigations, keeping the board of regents and congress informed about problems and deficiencies, promoting efficiency and effect i haveness effectiveness within the smithsonian and preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse. Inspector general helm also serves as vice chair they have Audit Committee for the counsels Inspector General on integrity and efficiency and is chair of the small, ewe knee o. I. G. Group, a grandpa of Inspector Generals who meet quarterly to exchange ideas. Before she joins joined the smithsonian, Inspector General helm worked as deputy Inspector General at the u. S. Government Accountability Office where she helped lead audit and investigative programs. Welcome to beth of todays witnesses and we thank you so much for coming. At this time i would ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and all written statement mace be made part of the record. Without objection, that is so ordered. I remind the witnesses that your entire statements will be made part of the record. We ask that you your testimony summarize your written statement about about five minutes. When the five minutes is nearing up, the little light will turn yellow. When its red that means the five minutes are up and we ask you to wind it up. The record will remain open for at least five days for additional materials or questions to be submitted to you. So now we will turn to you, secretary bunch. Welcome. Were eager to hear your testimony. Mr. Bunch thank you so much, chairperson lofgren, Ranking Member davis and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My tenure as the 14th secretary of the smithsonian has been only a few short months, but as you mentioneding, my relationship with this institution gos back to when i was 26yearold kid. I was so honored to serve as the founding director of the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture and im plrn pleased, in fact, im humbled, to assume the role as secretary of the institution, the institution i las vegas so much. The smithsonian greatly appreciates the continued support of congress, the administration, and the american people. We take seriously the crucial role we play in advancing the civic, educational, and scientific life of this nation. Our goal is to reach in meaningful ways at least one billion people worldwide. Nothing replaces the authentic artifacts we have on display. But we need to reach millions who cannot visit us in person. Using all the Digital Tools available to us. I am committed to achieving this goal while protecting an securing our Digital Assets and those of the users of our technology. Cultural institutions are uniquely equipped to inspire and we magnified that ability when we truly reflect the rich tap city of humanity. The smithsonian is committed to increase, atracking attracting and developing a diverse and talented work force. I am pleased that congress has supported this egoal of telling more expansive and representative stories by shepherding legislation that advocates for new museums. If congress deems it in the interest of the American Public to authorize the smithsonian to build a new museum, and provides the necessary additional funds for that purpose, and appropriates means for a longterm operation of the museum, then we will create a museum that exceeds all expectations. A new 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 inclusive and more representative of the nations population. It is, as you pointed out, crucially important that we recognize the smithsonians pressing infrastructure and collection space needs that demand our immediate and ongoing attention. We is appreciate the support of congress in the renovation of the national air and space museum. Just as important, we are grateful for the ongoing support of maintenance needs throughout the institution. Regarding the american womans History Museum legislation, both the house and senate bills largely mirror the successful model employed by the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Both bills call to construct the museum with 50 federal and require tremendous smithsonian to raise 50 from nonfederal sources. Legislation is also has also been introduced calling to create a National Museum of the american la latino, in order to showcase the life, art, history and culture of american latinos and their latinos and their contributions to the United States. This also followed the model of the national africanamerican museum. While i do have experience with private fundraising and am more than willing to advocate for private funds, it is impossible to pursue projects of the magnitude without federal funding for the projects at their very genesis. If authorized and funded by congress wed be honored to add these museums to the smithsonian family. If Congress Makes these decisions we will tell a broader, more complete story with our resources. An example of this desire is the american womens history initiative, because of her story. Which was lanched in 2018. Because of her story represents a paratime shift. It allows the entire smithsonian to wrestle with how issues of gender shaped the American Experience. We are grateful to congress for this support. We are also so proud to be able to unveil in the fall of 2021 the first gallery to explore latino culture to open on the National Mall and we worked very hard to make sure that the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center which has served to further the inclusion of Asian Pacific americans, continues to research, build collections, do exhibitions and programs, and they too are also fundraising for the first gallery dedicated to them. Our work to increase knowledge is never ending. The institution has been conducting Ground Breaking research in science and marine and terrestrial environments, reproducing animals from around the world in their natural habitat. Ultimately what i want to do is say that museums are more than important now than ever because of their ability to serve as trusted sources of information. We want the people to see the smithsonian as a tool to help them understand their universe, their history, and our shaped future in order to live better lives. It is incumbent on us as an institution to be a more universal resource, one that earns the american Peoples Trust and leverages our great convening power to increase our relevance. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify. Im happy to answer any and all questions. Ms. Lofgren thank you very much. Now we hear from you, ms. Helm. Ms. Helm yes, chairman lofgren, Ranking Member davis and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the role of the office of Inspector General and the oversight of the smithsonian. As you know, o. I. G. s mission is to promote the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of smithsonians programs and operations. We do this through independent and objective audits and investigations. Today, my testimony will focus on our work related to management challenges. In the area of collection management, Facilities Management and security. Collections are at the core of this this at the core of the smithsonian. Our office has done extensive work spming examining collection stewardship. For instance, we reported in 2015 that the smithsonian faces challenges to fully implement the plan that is to ensure the Proper Storage of its collection. Because of its estimated cost, more than 1 billion over 30 years, and the immediate to balance competing demands to fund other Capital Projects. Currently, we are asaysing inventory controls of the smithsonians newest museum, the museum of africanAmerican History and culture. The smit