Viewing page 20 of 109

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-8-

will present to Congress a clearer and more detailed justification for the planned use of such advance planning funds; and, finally, the Smithsonian is applying Congressional guidelines for the reprogramming of Restoration and Renovation funds, and, as necessary, will discuss interpretations of those rules with Congressional staff.

In further discussion Mr. Jameson assured the Committee, as the public had been assured, that the Smithsonian's projected expenses for completing the replacement of electrical transformers containing PCBs in fiscal years 1987-1990 will remain a top priority of the Institution and will not be eliminated by cuts incurred under the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings legislation. Mr. League pointed out that the most recent study shows that the Smithsonian has met every normal standard in its program to minimize the dangers presented by the transformers containing PCBs; at this point, he added, the Institution is looking for above-normal standards befitting the treasures in the National Collections.

The Committee agreed to meet again in early- to mid-June to review Coopers and Lybrand's plan for the fiscal year 1986 consolidated audit and to have a comprehensive discussion of the Smithsonian's merchandising activities. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 a.m. and was followed by a tour of the exhibition, "Life in America After the Revolution," led by Roger Kennedy, Director of the National Museum of American History.