[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 170 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12477-H12478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF ROGER W. SANT AS A CITIZEN REGENT OF 
          THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 7) providing for the 
reappointment of Roger W. Sant as a citizen regent of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution.
  The text of the Senate joint resolution is as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 7

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in 
     accordance with section 5581 of the Revised Statutes (20 
     U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of Regents of the 
     Smithsonian Institution, in the class other than Members of 
     Congress, occurring because of the expiration of the term of 
     Roger W. Sant of Washington, D.C., is filled by the 
     reappointment of Roger W. Sant, for a term of 6 years, 
     effective October 25, 2007.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
in the Record and include extraneous matter.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this joint resolution will reappoint Roger W. Sant to be 
a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution for a second 6-year 
term. The last few years have been very difficult ones for the 
Smithsonian. The aftermath of the September 11 attacks

[[Page H12478]]

caused a significant drop in public attendance at the Smithsonian 
facilities, which has only recently begun to bounce back. Many believe 
the Institution has become too closely identified with donors and 
corporate sponsors of its buildings and activities, which threatens its 
reputation for independence.
  Mr. Speaker, the House Administration Committee thought long and hard 
about whether it would be appropriate to replace some members of the 
Board of Regents. In prior years, the committee had essentially rubber-
stamped appointment recommendations from the board, and candidates 
seeking a second term routinely received it. This year, two citizens 
regents are seeking reappointment, including Mr. Sant, and two 
additional seats will be filled by new members who have who not yet 
been recommended to us. So there is a process of natural rotation.
  We ultimately decided to give the board more time to implement the 
promising reforms recommended both by its Governance Committee and the 
Independent Review Committee. The committee expects the board to 
appoint a secretary who will be fully responsive to the board and 
protect the values the American public has expected of the Smithsonian.
  As part of the process of considering this joint resolution, 
committee members met with Mr. Sant 2 weeks ago to hear his views about 
recent events in the Smithsonian and assessment of the pace of the 
ongoing reforms at the Institution. We were cautiously optimistic that 
the board is on the right track. Mr. Sant has broad understanding of 
the Smithsonian operation and its past flaws, and we believe he can 
make a useful contribution to the restructuring of the board.
  He also informed the committee that he is not running for the new and 
enhanced position of chairman of the board, which is expected to be 
created January 2008 as one of the principal reform recommendations. We 
think the new occupant of this position should bring a fresh 
perspective of the management of the board's affairs.
  For these reasons, we have decided to recommend Mr. Sant's 
reappointment to the board for a second 6-year term and urge his 
approval by the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as ranking member of the House Administration Committee, 
I am pleased to support S.J. Res. 7, a bill that allows for the 
reappointment of Roger Sant as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian 
Institution.
  Several other members of the Committee on House Administration and I 
had the opportunity recently to meet with Mr. Sant and discuss the road 
ahead for the Smithsonian in this time of change and opportunity, and 
also to discuss the mistakes of the past. Mr. Sant assured me that, 
with his reappointment, he would do his part to ensure that the 
``Nation's attic,'' which is the common name for the Smithsonian, is 
not being looted by those who have put personal gain above the 
interests of the Institution.
  In the last Congress, this committee conducted an oversight hearing 
into Smithsonian Business Ventures in what would turn out to be a 
prophetic concern about the museum's financial operations. While my 
colleague Chairman Brady and and I are committed to continuing vigorous 
oversight of the Smithsonian, an effective and engaged Board of Regents 
is an essential first line of defense in ensuring that we do not 
experience a repeat of those problems that plagued the immediate past 
president of the Smithsonian.
  I am confident, based on the statements made by Mr. Sant, that he is 
committed to earning back the trust of the Congress and the American 
people regarding the board's role of safeguarding our Nation's most 
treasured assets and ensuring proper governance of the Smithsonian and 
all its different enterprises.
  I appreciate the leadership given by the chairman of this committee, 
Mr. Brady, and the way he has taken hold of this issue, among others, 
and I am pleased to join him in approving this resolution.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
reappointment of Roger Sant to the Smithsonian Board of Regents.
  I am a new member of the Board of Regents since January. And although 
the past eleven months have been challenging for the Smithsonian . . . 
this period of transition will result in a new Secretary, an improved 
governance structure and a stronger relationship with Congress and the 
American people. I believe that much of the changes can be attributed 
to Mr. Sant's leadership during this time.
  In March, Mr. Sant led the effort to create both an Independent 
Review Committee, headed by Chuck Bowsher, formerly the Comptroller 
General of the United States . . . and an internal Governance 
Committee, on which I serve.
  As a result of both of the committees' work, the Regents adopted a 
comprehensive set of governance reforms, comprised of 25 specific 
changes in June, 2007. In broad terms, these reforms will ensure that 
the Board of Regents and the Secretary of the Smithsonian work together 
in a constructive partnership, and will improve the Smithsonian's 
culture of accountability and transparency. To date, eleven of these 25 
reforms have been implemented in whole or in part, and the remainder 
will be implemented by May, 2008.
  Additionally, Mr. Sant serves on the new Facilities Revitalization 
Committee. The Committee is addressing shortfalls in funding for 
Smithsonian facilities revitalization and maintenance, estimated to 
require $1 billion above current funding levels over the next ten 
years. The Regents are hard at work developing a plan to fund this 
shortfall and return the Smithsonian's museums and other facilities to 
the condition expected by the American public.
  My colleagues and I on the Board of Regents are fully committed to 
ensuring that the Institution operates at the highest level of 
integrity and transparency. Mr. Sant has been involved at every level 
of reform and has done a tremendous amount of work, as have my fellow 
Regents. The Board is guided by the same principals that guide our work 
in Congress . . . operating as a public trust . . . following only the 
highest ethical standards . . . and conducting business with an 
increased ethos of transparency.
  The Board's accomplishments during these few months are notable, as 
are its plans for future improvements. The Board of Regents is 
currently conducting a search for a new Secretary, and is still in the 
midst of a thorough and thoughtful process to reform its governance 
structure. We have the momentum and the dedication from the Board 
Members and need to be able to continue our work.
  I applaud Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Ehlers for moving Mr. 
Sant's reappointment at this time. And for their continued commitment 
to the betterment of the Institution.
  Let me conclude by saying that each year, over 25 million visitors 
come to the Smithsonian. The National Collections, containing over 135 
million items, are cared for, displayed, and made available for 
research by this beloved institution.
  The Smithsonian faces many challenges as it pursues its mission for 
``the increase and diffusion of knowledge.'' While the Board works to 
find a new Secretary, institute governance reforms and address 
facilities needs . . . the Smithsonian continues to mount world-class 
exhibitions and conduct cutting-edge research in science, history, art, 
and culture.
  The Smithsonian offers a uniquely American experience to all of our 
constituents when they come to the nation's capitol. Mr. Sant's 
dedication and commitment to the Smithsonian benefit us all.
  I would urge my colleagues to support his reappointment to ensure 
that all of the reforms that he has helped to implement are executed in 
a prompt and timely manner. I thank him for his leadership during this 
period of transition.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 7.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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