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American Indian will be vested with the authority to provide for the exhibition of objects and artifacts, conduct programs of research, evaluation, and education, and to develop and implement policy as to the method of display (however, this limited authority will be subject to the approval of the Board of Regents); that the National Museum of the American Indian 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; that, instead of constructing seven regional museums as provided in the bill reported by the Senate Rules Committee, existing regional facilities will be utilized at a dramatic reduction in cost; that, should the Museum in New York fail, the Board of Regents would have the right of first refusal to its complete collection; and that the Board of Regents would have unlimited access to the present collection of the Heye Foundation and would have, therefore, just slightly less than title. Senator Inouye characterized these changes as everything that could be effected other than an outright gift by the Heye Foundation to the Smithsonian, which would be highly unlikely under present circumstances.

Senator Inouye proceeded to reveal his several concerns: that the Heye Foundation's million irreplaceable objects are endangered by inadequate storage facilities, and that there is a compelling national obligation to honor the American Indian heritage and to respect the rights of the American Indian communities. 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 Board of Regents and at the same time fulfill the national obligation.