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[[underline]] Congressional Approvals [[/underline]]

It is clear, given recent expressions of concern by various Members of Congress and certain of the conclusions of the GAO audit report of March 31, 1977, that new programs of appreciable size which are likely to require subsequent Federal appropriations should at the very least be brought to the attention of the appropriate Committees of the Congress before the Smithsonian undertakes them.  The Museum of African Art certainly fits this category.  It is equally clear that the Smithsonian would not want unilaterally to assume responsibility for the financial well-being of the Museum without assurance of the willingness of the Congress to provide adequate appropriations to support the Museum.

The Committee discussed various ways by which to achieve this two-fold objective, that of informing the Congress of our intent and securing an indication of its support.  It is the [[underline]] ad hoc [[/underline]] committee's opinion that a procedure more formal than simply seeking the signature of individual Members on a circulating letter, but less time consuming and potentially restrictive than an authorizing bill, should be sought. Thus the committee recommends that, upon approval by the Board of Regents of the above resolution and determination by the Secretary that an agreement in conformance with that resolution can be reached, Congressional Members of the Board of Regents together with Senator Humphrey and other willing sponsors be asked to introduce a