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The appropriation for Salaries & Expenses contains a net increase of $5.7 million above the previous year. In addition to providing the Institution's full request for inflation in salaries and other costs, less two percent, Congress approved major new funding for the replacement of scientific equipment at the National Museum of Natural History, the Astrophysical Observatory and the Environmental Research Center, and for Quadrangle-related activities of the National Museum of African Art, the Sackler Gallery, and the Libraries.

On the other hand, a major decrease was made in funding for Museum Support Center operations and equipment; Congress allowed only $7.8 million of a requested $13.2 million and reduced base support by over $700,000. Other reductions were made in base support for the Hirshhorn Museum and for automation, and in the requested increase for utilities. The $200,000 sought for conversion of Cooper-Hewitt trust-funded positions to federal status was also denied.

Funding was provided by Congress for a number of projects not included in the fiscal year 1985 request, notably: research at the National Museum of Natural History on the relationship of global vulcanism to plate tectonics and on the Caribbean Basin Coral Reef; the acceleration of the video disc project and development of digitizer technology at the National Air and Space Museum; an aquatic habitats curator and animal food at the National Zoological Park; asbestos clean-up at Silver Hill; an exhibition and events related to the 200th anniversary of the Constitution at the National Museum of American History; collections acquisition at the Freer Gallery of Art; conversation at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; as well as support for additional guards and maintenance workers throughout the Smithsonian. Congress added approximately $700,000 for