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NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM

Mr. Adams observed that the National Building Museum, which is housed in the Pension Building in Northwest Washington, has also been having problems which threaten its future. He indicated that he was approached by Mr. Bates Lowry, Director of the Museum, who inquired about the Smithsonian's taking control, in answer to which Mr. Adams said the Smithsonian is not in a position to take on additional responsibilities unless there were iron-clad assurances that all the required funds were in hand. Mr. Adams added that he thought the solution to the problems of the National Building Museum lies in either the architectural and building industries coming together with the necessary funds or some effort beginning with those industries to secure the funds from the Congress.

COUNCIL ON AMERICAN OVERSEAS RESEARCH CENTERS

The Secretary pointed out that the Smithsonian has been in close association with the Council on American Overseas Research Centers sine its founding and the Institution's foreign currency program has been supporting the programs of many of these centers. The centers, many of which are in the Mediterranean countries as well as in India and Yemen, are primarily interested in the humanities but also have programs in other disciplines. They have been experiencing great financial difficulties for their operations due to cutbacks in other government programs.

Mr. Adams reported that this fall the Office of Management and Budget came to the Smithsonian with a proposal to add $2 million in non-competitive funds to the Institution's fiscal year 1986 budget request. If appropriated, these funds would be administered by the