Smithsonian museums, including the inkwell used by president lincoln to sign the emancipation proclamation. This is just under one hour. The committee will come to order. David skorton, i would like to welcome you to todays hearing. I appreciate you joining us this morning to share your vision for the future of the smithsonian and to discuss your Budget Priorities for the fiscal year 2017. The members and staff are also grateful you brought some interesting historical items for show and tell. It is going to one of the highlights of our hearing season. You clearly have one of the most interesting jobs in town. I think most of us around this table would love to trade places with you, but something tells me it would not be in the best interests of the smithsonian. So we will all keep our jobs. The smithsonians mission is to increase the diffusion of knowledge. As the 13th secretary of the smithsonian, you are interested with the challenging sponsored abilities of operating and managing one of our countries most revered institutions. The smithsonian is often referred to as americas attic. No wonder you are the steward of more than 38 million objects in the National Collection that reflects americas cultural and scientific heritage. The smithsonian provides education, outreach programs in art, culture, history, and science for visitors. The Vice President , nine private citizens, and six members of congress, including our good friend tom, who serves on the subcommittee. Overall, the proposed funding level of the fiscal year 2017 request, is 922. 2 million, which is about 10 above the fiscal year 2016. Compared with other major accounts under the subcommittees jurisdiction, your request is one of the most ambitious, as measured on a percentage basis. Like most big organizations, the smithsonian faces enormous challenges which we will discuss at length today. We recently learned of the need for enormously costly repairs to the national air museum. If approved, this effort will place extraordinarily dass extraordinary burdens on the budget for the foreseeable future. The subcommittee congratulates the smithsonian on the news of the opening of the National Museum of African American history and culture on september 24 of this year. The committee has met its funding commitment, one half the total cost for construction of the museum. We are pleased that this extraordinary Publicprivate Partnership, enabling the museum to be built has proved successful. The construction is now nearly complete. Construction of the African American museum and the proposed repairs to the national air and space museum are illustrate illustrative of the very real challenges the subcommittee faces. Both increasing demand for and thinking supply of federal dollars to address many legitimate priorities. For this reason, it is essential that the smithsonian outlined and clearly communicate its highest and greatest priorities. Every member of the subcommittee would like to support the 10 increase for funding for the smithsonian. But, given the incredible demands, it is probably not realistic. Difficult funding decisions will have to be made. The subcommittee will do its very best to adjust the smithsonians most urgent priorities. I look forward to your testimony and continuing to work together. In closing, i want to commend you for the smithsonians efforts to improve the display and storage of your vast collections. Based on the input this Committee Received from members on both sides of the aisle, it is very clear, that the preservation and care of these lifeless and irreplaceable collections remain a high priority of this committee and this congress. I am happy to yield my good friend, mrs. Mccallum for any opening remarks you would like to make. I would also like to welcome you here. This will be your first Budget Hearing before the subcommittee. You were appointed the secretary of the smithsonian this october. I am pleased that an opportunity to learn more about this institution and how you plan on working through some of the challenges as the chairman pointed out. The smithsonian was treated for an infusion of knowledge. It has the ability to capture the imagination, a both children and adults. It has something for everyone. In particular, the unique imagination. It is truly a delight for families, the interactive craft, exploratory learning that is there. I have to tell you, it is a destination for some children i know well whenever they come to town. I also want to applaud you for the triumphant opening, which is a providing joy for a Record Number of visitors. I got to be there for the opening exhibit, it was fabulous. The smithsonian institution, the budget request is 922 million, an increase of 82 million over the 2016 enacted level. These increases will help support the smithsonians research program, their diverse collections, and make essential investments for both the facility and the workforce. In regards to your collection, i would note that the administration has not proposed funding for the american treasures program. The park Service Began in 1999. It was instrumental in joining with others to preserve National Historic collections. Some of which are housed in your museum at the smithsonian. For example, the starspangled banner flag. I hope it is given an opportunity, if smithsonian will support efforts to restore the program which has a direct connection between reserving your collections. Like other committees within the jurisdiction, smithsonian is facing challenges with the maintenance backlog. Many are operating with equipment more than 50 years old. Currently, the smithsonians index rating is considered poor. In order to achieve acceptable facilities condition index score and ensure safe health and safety for guests and employees, the budget requests 163 million. This amount will continue major renovations at the national zoo and other priority areas, including the National Museum of American History, and natural history. It also provides a 50 50 million increase to the air museum. It is one of the most visited museums in the world. Unfortunately, it is facing significant challenges with a deteriorating facade which allows moisture into the building. This funding is the first of several significant increases the smithsonian will be requesting to address issues that the air and other museums. Construction of offsite storage, also. While they are big investments, there in the longterm interests of the nations. It is also the federal governments responsibility to provide necessary funding to ensure the 28 million visitors to the smithsonian have a safe and enriching experience. I am pleased that the national American History of africanAmerican History will be opening this fall great it is a chance to learn about the rich cultural achievements of americans of african descent. It will also be the First Digital museum. That means anyone can share the experience. People in minnesota are so excited that they will be able to be there as part of the opening. Virtual collections provide amazing Educational Opportunities for millions of children. And, you are bringing the museum right into customs. Dr. , i appreciate the work that you and all your employees do at the smithsonian. You provide scientific and artistic light to this nation. I yield back to mr. Chair and thank you for your time. Mr. Calvert and with that i yield to you dr. Sport in. Dr. Skorton thank you for this opportunity to testify. On behalf of the entire smithsonian institution, we appreciate the continuous, generous support of congress. This support makes for a huge and very collections of National Treasures accessible to the American Public. From display of the starspangled banner, to research on the evolution of the tyrannosaurus rex, we take our obligation to the American Public very seriously. This unique Publicprivate Partnership is working well. In july, i was privileged to be a part of this great institution. Today, i would like to share a few of our recent achievements, and touch on the two major objectives. Strengthening our intellectual foundation, and strengthening our physical infrastructure. Your support advances the civic, educational, scientific, and artistic life of our nation. Just a few recent highlights. Our new museum of African American history opens on the mall this november. Smithsonian Scientists Use our collections to provide important and practical insights on a variety of topics during consider the zika virus. The department of defense is working with us to map the outbreak. There looking at how it might spread through nonhuman factors. The Smithsonian Institute in panama is studying the zikacarrying mosquitoes genetic makeup. The National Museums offer insight into our nations leaders. Our diverse music collections would comprise the largest in the world if they were all in one place. Now, they are, at a new website called smithsonian music. A gallery reopened in november, following a twoyear renovation. Its debut division, wonder, has attracted more than 368,000 visitors in just the first four months. And we welcomed a new panda to the zoo. Bebe represents our extensive work in a species biodiversity. In addition to the nearly 30 million visits to our museums in washington and new york are the, we are extending access and education across the country. We now have 208 affiliate museums. Our traveling Exhibition Service reaches millions annually. We offer online educational materials in the k12 to students of all ages, and teachers with more than 2000 learning Resources Available online. All of them for free. Our Science Education center has been helping to transform formal Science Education on the k12 level for more than 30 years. This curriculum is used in every state in the country, and in 25 other countries around the world. We have more than one at a 38 million objects in our collection. To expand access, we have traded millions of electronic images and records, and become leaders in the field of threedimensional scanning. I was recently at the national air and based museum as her experts carefully climbed into the apollo 11 command module to create a threedimensional scan of its interior. Revealing for the first time, notes, and a calendar written inside by american astronauts. What a discovery. All of this information we will offer online this summer for everyone to explore for free. Such treasures explain why the air and space museum is among the top three most visited museums in the world. And were gearing up to transform it so it will be there for generations to come. This is a perfect example of one of our major objectives strengthening our physical infrastructure. Our request also includes construction of the air and space needs the ms collections module at the center in virginia. Funds for revitalizations projects, and for planning and design of future projects. These funds will enable the institution to continue major revitalization work at the National History museum, the zoo, and the National Museum of American History. Our other priority is strengthening our intellectual programs. Our rates of curators have shrunk substantially, especially in some of our museums. We need to reverse this longterm trend in the loss of territorial and research staff. We need new experts who can continue to acquire and exhibit our unique collections while also ensuring the availability of the collections for critical research. The smithsonian does face a future that holds exciting opportunities and imposing challenges. Working with the congress and the administration, we will aggressively address these challenges and take full advantage of many new opportunities. Again, i think for the opportunity of testifying. Thank you mr. Chairman. Mr. Calvert as you mention in your opening statement, the national air and space museum which is the most visited museum in the United States, and the second most visited in the world, behind only the louvre in paris, is in need of major repair work. The projection i have seen, projects the cost to be extraordinary, nearly 600 million. This exceeds the total cost of a new museum of African American history and culture. Can you explain in some detail, the nature of the repairs needed, and why the estimated cost to address them is so high . Dr. Skorton thank you, mr. Chairman. The museum is 40 years old. We have projected for a long time the need to update mechanical systems in the building. That accounts for something on the order of magnitude of 200 million in projected costs. Much of it is due to an unanticipated problem found in the clay of the exterior of the building. It will require replacement by new materials for the safety of the public going into the building and for the buildings own integrity. It will also be necessary, from my perspective, to keep as much of the museum open during the revitalization as possible, given the in norm the American Public has to visit the museums and gain from the collections. Some of the funding will go to the necessity to move items to offsite storage, while a particular part of the museum is being moved worked on, and then moved back. When you add all these things up, it does come to an extraordinary number. Our plan is to continue funding for this project for another year. And to directly do the construction over a fiveyear. , until fiscal year 2022. Mr. Calvert what were the replacement costs to just tear the existing museum down and rebuild it . Dr. Skorton this was the very first question i asked when i was wrought on board. They told me about the very challenging price tag on repairing this building. Although it is counterintuitive, but first you would think it would be much more parsimonious to replace the building, but it turned out to be much more expensive, on the magnitude of 2 billion. Please bear with me why i explain why that would be. We would have to have a place to move the entire collection. Since it is such an enormous building, with such an enormous collection, all the objects in there, including very large projects, we have to rent or build a massive storage facility. We would have to shut the missed useum down for years. In addition to the generous, steadfast support congress has given us, we have been able to raise some funds through retail operations, imax theater, shops, and so on. Of course, we would lose that revenue. When you add it all up, although i say it is counterintuitive, given the very expensive project to replace it while keeping say, have to museum open throughout the project, is actually much less expensive than it would be to replace the entire building. But i thank you for the question. Mr. Calvert and of the 600 million, how much do you anticipate would be funded through appropriations, and how would it be a just through nonfederally funded sources . Dr. Skorton i would have to ask that the entire amount is funded through federal means, and may i please expand on that . I had a great opportunity in my career to participate in fundraising for a variety of distinguished, nonprofit institutions. The smithsonian uses the leverage that you supply, by providing steadfast support. In my experience, it is difficult to build philanthropic funds for repair, as opposed to something new. I must hasten to add that in planning for the future of the national air and space museum, we have plans for approximately two and 250 million of changes to the way we show exhibits to the public. Increased use of interactive and electronic technology, a whole different approach. In addition to raise those funds, we already on our way to do that. But the actual reconstruction of the building itself, i am asking be completely done through federal funds. Mr. Calvert before i asked betty to take over and ask questions, what are you explain some of the items you have brought here to show us, and to show everyone. Dr. Skorton thank you, mr. Chairman. Although i gave you an amateurs rundown before, i will give you some professionals to give you a better, more spacing succinct discussion. I want to thank you for letting us share the collection today. From the National History museum, this was used by Abraham Lincoln to sign the emancipation proclamation. Also, the cracked plate portrait of Abraham Lincoln taken by the president s favorite photographer. Dr. Kelly from the astrological observatory has brought prototypes from a protected heatshield, part of nasas solar probe spacecraft. Dr. Eleanor harvey from the art museum has brought thomas morans beautiful watercolor of the excelsior geiser at Yellowstone National park. I have been warned to stay out of this. [laughter] it is above my pay grade. Whatever you say, i agree with completely. My name is harry rubenstein, i am the chair of political history at the museum of National History. This is a inkstand that sat on the desk of major thomas accor at the telegraph office. As you know, Abraham Lincoln would go to the telegraph office to keep tabs on what was happening during the civil war. In the summer of 1862, rather than swapping stories and jokes, he sat quietly at major eckherts desk, at what became the emancipation proclamation. He cap this and eventually saved it and presented it to the government. It will be in the opening of the African American museum, and will then move back to American H