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[[underlined]] Certification of Availability of Nonfederal Funds [[/underlined]]

The Secretary noted that quadrangle authorizing legislation, signed by the President on June 24, contained the following language concerning the nonfederal Smithsonian contribution toward the project:

"Except for funds obligated  or expended for planning, administration, and management expenses, and architectural or other consulting services, no funds appropriated or expended until such time as there is available to such Board, from private donations or from other non-Federal sources, a sum which, when combined with the funds so appropriated, is sufficient to carry out the purposes of this Act."

The intent of this section, as amplified by the Senate report on the bill, is "to avoid a situation where construction is begun but cannot be completed without additional Federal appropriations because the non-public funds now expected are not forthcoming."  As discussed in the Financial Report, it is anticipated that the Institution's FY 1983 budget request for $36.5 million of appropriated funds for the project will be acted on shortly by the Congress.  Indeed, the Secretary added, the Continuing Resolution for the beginning of FY 1983, as passed by the House of Representatives, provides for the appropriation of the full $36.5 million.  Assuming approval of this appropriation, compliance by the Board of Regents with the requirement cited above will be necessary before any such funds can be obligated.

The results to date of the fund raising efforts as well as the plans outlined above are extremely encouraging with respect to the Institution's ability to secure the full $37.5 million required from nonfederal sources.