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Beginning this year, approximately $500,000 per year accumulated from such receipts would be placed in an escrow account eventually applied toward the cost of construction.

On December 4, 1978, Mr. Ripley met individually with Mr. Yates, Chairman of our Subcommittee on Appropriations, and Mr. Harold Johnson, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation, to describe and show them the concept of the project as well as to seek their views. Both of them were favorably impressed from the esthetic point of view and were receptive to the idea as a whole. Both responded warmly to the point made, i.e., that if such a project is to be done at all, much time would be saved if this effort can be spearheaded while Mr. Ripley is Secretary of the Institution. Mr. Johnson suggested that he would like to have us keep in touch with his Committee so that we would develop this rapidly and within a time frame of benefit to us. Mr. Yates appeared to be receptive to the normal scheduling that would ensue as a result of our negotiations with OMB and the President's Budget as presented to his Committee. Mr. Ripley plans to visit other members of our Congressional Committees as their schedules permit, including Senator Pell, Senator Hatfield, Mr. Nedzi, Mr. Harsha and others.

Mr. Ripley explained, in answer to Mr. Mineta's question, that the rationale for using nonappropriated and appropriated funds varies with circumstances. Most of the funds for operation of the museums and research programs are from appropriated funds as authorized by the Congress over the years. Most of the funds for construction of