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[[underlined]] MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, HEYE FOUNDATION [[/underlined]]

The Chancellor introduced the subject of the Museum by drawing the Regent's attention to the Executive Committee's discussion on January 21. He reminded the Regents that the Committee wished to encourage a free and frank exchange of views on issues which would be of great importance in the event that the Secretary is drawn into further talks with representatives of the Museum, authorities in New York, members of Congress, and other interested parties. 

The Secretary gave a brief chronology of developments since the last meeting of the Regents, referring to the material presented below. He went on to discuss the specific issues which had arisen with respect to potential Smithsonian involvement with the Museum in the future and he received important guidance from the Board.

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Early in October Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Select Committee on Indian Affairs, proposed amending S. 1722, the bill he and others introduced on September 25, 1987 to establish the National Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation within the Smithsonian Institution and to establish a memorial to the American Indian, and for other purposes. The proposed amendment would establish, in addition to a new museum in Washington, the "New York Museum of the National Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation" and would require the Smithsonian to use the New York Custom House as the site of the New York Museum. It also would establish an advisory committee to advise the Board of Regents and the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation in Washington on the use and disposition of all Museum of the American Indian facilities transferred to the Smithsonian.

On October 22 Congressman Guy V. Molinari (R-New York) proposed a compromise under which the collection of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation would be divided. One half of it would be housed at the Smithsonian and the other at a site previously proposed that is adjacent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. However, the New York half would remain under the control of the existing museum of the American Indian.

On November fifth, following meetings of principals and representatives of the New York Congressional Delegation and others, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-New York), Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato (R-New York), Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-New York), Congressman Ted Weiss (D-New