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[[underlined]] Infrastructure [[/underlined]]

The Institution plans to seek increased levels of federal appropriations for basic operations in many areas to improve the effectiveness and delivery of services to the public and to stay abreast of increasing program demands. The Institution will dedicate resources to such activities as library and archival support; technical and clerical support to the professional staff; acquisition of computer hardware and software; equipment replacement; collection management and conservation systems, and other basic infrastructure operating needs. Bureaus and offices have identified approximately $63 million of infrastructure requirements that need to be addressed and funded over the next several years. The Institution is requesting $25 million for Infrastructure requirements in the fiscal year federal 1991 budget. 

[[underlined]] Global Environmental Change [[/underlined]] 

The current environmental situation demonstrates enormous deficiencies in human understanding of biological and physical processes. The Institution, because of its collections, interests and qualifications in biological and astrophysical research, has special responsibilities to its national and international constituencies to assist in remedying these deficiencies. 

The Institution plans to expand its research on global environmental issues including biodiversity and ecosystem studies; wildlife conservation and preservation; and major scientific instrumentation. The Institution will seek approximately $25 million in appropriations for increased levels of research in global environmental studies over the planning period, and several millions of dollars of support from donors and the private sector for these purposes. 

[[underlined]] Cultural Pluralism [[/underlined]]

Cultural diversity has always been a strength of the nation. As this diversity increases it creates many new public demands upon and challenges for the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian is pursuing ways to address these demands and meet these challenges. The Institution is committed to enhancing its public education programs, exhibitions, and other efforts to provide a comprehensive and meaningful interpretation of the many facets of the changing social and cultural environment. The Smithsonian's objectives are to broaden the diversity of its programs, improve the minority and gender representation of staff and management, and increase the participation and involvement of various groups and audiences in the development and presentation of their cultural traditions. 

The establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian and the activities surrounding the Institutional commemorations of the Columbian Quincentenary will contribute to these ends. The Institution estimates that operations of the National Museum of the American Indian ultimately will cost $25 million annually. Over the period, the Institution anticipates attaining sustained levels of Federal appropriations of approximately $17 million for program and facility planning, transition and operating costs associated with New York and Washington based activities. Quincentenary exhibitions, symposia, conferences, and other activities will require several million over the period. The Institution anticipates appropriations of approximately $2 million to $3 million for fiscal year 1991 and fiscal year 1992, with follow