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after which the location of the collection would be clear and the Smithsonian could go forward to explore meaningfully a joint venture concept. Still other questions remain and should be carefully explored: whether a joint venture with the Heye Foundation could justify a full museum on the Mall; whether the Smithsonian -- already faced with major responsibilities for the repair and restoration of its buildings and with demands to fund an extension of the National Air and Space Museum and the restoration of the International Trade Commission Building (the Old Post Office Building) -- would be prepared for the substantial expenses involved in creating a parallel American Indian museum on the Mall; and whether Smithsonian professional staff, hard pressed to meet the increasing number of problems with respect to the return of Native American collections, can meet its other important responsibilities in the museum.

Senator Inouye (who was invited by Senator Moynihan to join the meeting for this discussion) hoped that further discussion and negotiation on S. 1722 would lead to the satisfaction of the Board of Regents before any final resolution on the Senate floor would occur. Having distributed copies of a revised S. 1722, Senator Inouye said the bill had been modified to meet the Secretary's concerns in a number of areas: authorities for administration, collection acquisition, and appointment of the director and staff of the new National Museum of the American Indian would be vested in the Regents; there would be no transfer of Native American skeletal remains to the new Museum; the Board of Trustees of the new Museum will have authority to provide for exhibitions, research, and education (subject to the approval of the Board of Regents); the new Museum's Board of Trustees will be appointed by the President from nominees submitted by the Board of Regents, the President pro tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House; seven regional museums would utilize existing regional facilities at a dramatic reduction in cost; and the Board of Regents would have right of first refusal to the complete collection of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, should it fail, as well as unlimited access to the present collection of the Heye Foundation. In these respects, then, the Smithsonian would have just slightly less than title to the collection of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, Senator Inouye added. Senator Inouye expressed several concerns: the Foundation's irreplaceable objects are endangered by inadequate storage facilities; and there is a compelling national obligation to honor the American Indian heritage. To that end Senator Inouye pledged that the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs would be as patient as possible in working toward an arrangement which would be fully satisfactory to the Regents and fulfill the national obligation.

Senator Moynihan expressed confidence in the appropriateness of placing the Heye Foundation collections in the Custom House and noted that it has the support of New York State, New York City, and the President.

Mr. Adams said that the revisions to S. 1722 as characterized by Senator Inouye would appear to go a long way toward meeting the objections that had been voiced previously, and he expressed his gratitude to Senator Inouye for his generous effort to address these concerns. For