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[[underlined]] LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS AND ISSUES [[/underlined]]

Mr. Adams introduced the following report on legislative activities. Mr. Anderson noted that Smithsonian staff has had a constructive dialogue with Senate staff regarding how to preserve the authority of the Board of Regents in the face of almost-certain passage of the Amendment to the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Senate passage of which subsequently took place on February 2, 1988).

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[[underlined]] National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board [[/underlined]]

No action has been taken on H.R. 2395, to repeal Public Law 87-186, relating to the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board of the Smithsonian Institution.

[[underlined]] Cooper-Hewitt Museum [[/underlined]]

No action has been taken on H.R. 2815, to construct, expand, and renovate facilities for the Cooper-Hewitt Museum.

[[underlined]] National Air and Space Museum Extension [[/underlined]]

Three measures pertaining to the National Air and Space Museum have been introduced. On October 15, 1987, Senator Garn introduced S. 1790 for himself and Senators Glenn, Moynihan, Warner, Trible, D'Amato, Sasser, Weicker, Armstrong, Durenberger, Quayle, Hatch, Johnston, Rudman, Boschwitz, Karnes, Matsunaga, Chiles, Hollings, Dole, Hecht, Specter, Wallop, Evans, Gore, Stevens, McClure, Bond, Wilson, and Inouye. The bill would authorize Museum expansion at Washington Dulles International Airport and appropriations for fiscal years 1988 and 1989 of $1,000,000 for master planning. Federal funds are specifically not authorized for construction. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration which has taken no action on it.

In the House, Bill Grant (D-Fla.) introduced H.R. 3629 on November 10. The provisions are identical to those in the Senate bill. The measure has been referred to the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. On December 11 Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) introduced H.R. 3746 for himself, Helen Bentley (R-Md.), and Tom McMillen (D-Md.). The bill would authorize the expansion of the Air and Space Museum at Baltimore-Washington International Airport or at Dulles. Its other provisions are the same as those in the other two bills. It has been referred to the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Public Works and Transportation.

In a related development, the Chairman of the Smithsonian's House Appropriations subcommittee has agreed that it would useful now to undertake a feasibility study of such an extension. Approval by the Senate Appropriations subcommittee chairman is currently being sought. The study