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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

On request for clearance by the White House and by the Burea of the Budget to support a bill (H.R. 837) in order to acquire land for the National Armed Forces Museum was disapproved. The Executive Office believes that the important action at the present time is to acquire the land along the Potomac by the Park Service and the National Capital Planning Commission for the George Washington Memorial Parkway. A representative of the White House (Harry McPherson) felt that the inclusion of the Armed Forced Museum as a joint tenant for the land might jeopardize the legislation because of the charge that it would glorify war, however unjustified the charge might be. He also considered it would bring into question the 50 percent contribution of Prince Georges County for the purchase of the Parkway. He reasoned further that a proposal for the joint use of this land, if it could be acquired now, could be included in future legislation to authorize the Armed Forces Museum. 

The Secretary described a proposal for authorization of construction of museum support and depository facilities. During the past fifteen years the Smithsonian Institution has improved and gradually developed approximately 20 acres of land at Silver Hill, Maryland, for use as a general museum storage and shops facility. Temporary-type prefabricated metal buildings have been erected as funds permitted and needs dictated. There are, at the present time, 21 buildings of various sizes, totaling 323,200 square feet of floor space. It is now evident that these buildings are not adequate for the needs of the Institution and should be replaced progressively over a period of ten years with a series of permanent, utilitarian buildings of relatively low cost. 

To provide for the museum restoration activities now conducted at the Silver Hill storage facility as well as to provide needed storage for collections over-burdening the buildings on the Mall, we propose to redevelop the existing site now in Smithsonian jurisdiction. During the current year we propose to retain the service of a consultant to prepare a plan for the redevelopment in annual increments. 

To provide authorization for the Smithsonian Institution to plan and construct such museum support and depository facilities, legislation to amend the Act of August 22, 1949, must be obtained. That Act now provides authority for repairs and alterations of buildings and grounds occupied by the Smithsonian Institution but it does not authorize new construction. The Committee recommends approval by the Board to authorize the Secretary to seek such legislation.

The Secretary reported that the urgent need to relocate the Radiation Biology Laboratory from its crowded quarters in the basement of the Smithsonian Institution Building has been justified before our appropriations subcommittees. Funds to start relocation were appropriated in fiscal year 1968 and additional funds are requested in the fiscal year 1969 budget. We are studying the feasibility of moving the Laboratory to leased space in a new privately owned laboratory building to be constructed at Rockville, Maryland. The Committee expressed its approval of this plan and recommends its adoption by the Board.