[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1454-H1455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TO 
                    CONSTRUCT A GREENHOUSE FACILITY

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5492) to authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution to construct a greenhouse facility at its museum support 
facility in Suitland, Maryland, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5492

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONSTRUCTION OF GREENHOUSE FACILITY.

       The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is 
     authorized to construct a greenhouse facility at its museum 
     support facility in Suitland, Maryland, to maintain the 
     horticultural operations of, and preserve the orchid 
     collection held in trust by, the Smithsonian Institution.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated $12,000,000 to carry 
     out this Act. Such sums shall remain available until 
     expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Matsui) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5492, which is a bill to 
authorize appropriations for the Smithsonian for constructing of 
replacement greenhouses.
  Mr. Speaker, the Smithsonian is widely renowned as a national 
treasure. Many of our constituents come from all over the country to 
visit its museums. There they can explore our culture, learn about our 
achievements, and view pieces of our history.
  But the Smithsonian is much more than a keeper of artifacts. It has 
nine research facilities and is a leader in scientific research. The 
Horticulture Services Division provides a wide variety of services 
internally to Smithsonian museums, and more generally to the public 
through the Smithsonian's public gardens.
  The Smithsonian has leased a 55,000-square-foot greenhouse complex 
for its horticultural operations since 1974. It is currently located on 
the property of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest 
Washington, DC.
  The complex includes 12 greenhouses, an office for administrative and 
logistical functions, and a shade house. These greenhouses produce the 
institution's world-class orchid collection. They also provide space to 
grow a wide variety of plant materials for exhibits, gardens, and 
special events which would be costly or impossible to obtain 
commercially.
  The greenhouses allow the Smithsonian resources equal to, if not 
surpassing, any other botanical institute in the world.
  The greenhouse employees do this work with limited human resources. 
As true to most Smithsonian endeavors, the greenhouse staff is assisted 
in large part by a group of dedicated volunteer staff members. During 
fiscal year 2007, over 4,500 hours of time were donated by these 
individuals. Their commitment to the greenhouse facilities' programs is 
evident from their dedication, some of whom have donated over 25 years 
of service to the organization.
  The current greenhouse site will be leased commercially, and the 
Smithsonian must begin work on replacement greenhouses at the 
Smithsonian Museum Support Facility in Suitland, Maryland. Moving the 
facilities is the most cost-effective way to preserve the greenhouses. 
The Smithsonian has also created a design that will help save money 
during construction.
  Mr. Speaker, the important work being done every day by the 
Smithsonian horticulturists in the current facility is vital to the 
mission of the Smithsonian, the increase and diffusion of knowledge.
  I appreciate Chairman Oberstar, Chairwoman Norton, and Ranking 
Members Mica and Graves for recognizing the significance of this 
relocation. H.R. 5492 will ensure that the collections thrive and the 
important work that is done at these facilities continues. I urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5492 authorizes the Smithsonian Institution to 
construct greenhouses at its facility in Suitland, Maryland. The bill 
authorizes $12 million to construct the greenhouses. The Transportation 
Committee has researched the proposed cost of and the need for this 
greenhouse facility. We have done our due diligence on this project.
  This greenhouse facility will produce the plants for the entire 
Smithsonian Institution complex, which is the world's largest museum 
complex. In addition, the facility will house the orchid collection 
held in trust by the Smithsonian.
  The Smithsonian currently conducts these activities at an aging 
facility located at the Armed Forces Retirement Home here in the 
District of Columbia. Because the retirement home is redeveloping the 
site, the Smithsonian will no longer be able to use the greenhouse 
facility located there.
  These new greenhouses will enable the Smithsonian to continue 
producing its own plants after it loses access to the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home.
  Satisfying the Smithsonian's requirements for plants on the open 
market doesn't make sense economically. Given the wide variety of plans 
required for the National Zoo and museums, it is more cost effective 
for the Smithsonian to grow its own plants rather than to purchase 
them.
  The cost of this project is appropriate given the need for the 
greenhouse facility, as well as the work necessary to construct this 
particular type of greenhouse. I support the resolution. I urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5492, 
which authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to 
construct a greenhouse facility at its museum support facility in 
Suitland, Maryland.
  The Smithsonian has leased a 55,000-square-foot greenhouse complex 
for its horticultural operations on the property of the Armed Forces 
Retirement Home (``AFRH'') in northwest Washington, DC, since 1974. The 
complex includes 12 greenhouses, space for administrative and 
logistical functions, and a shade house. The complex houses the 
Institution's world-class orchid collection, and provides space to grow 
a wide variety of plant materials for exhibits, gardens, and special 
events that would be costly or impossible to obtain commercially.
  The AFRH plans to lease the property where the greenhouse complex is 
currently located to real estate developers and could turn the site 
over to a developer as early as September 30, 2008, when the current 
Smithsonian lease expires, leaving the Smithsonian without a greenhouse 
facility.
  This bill authorizes $12 million for the construction of a new 
greenhouse facility. This facility will support the Office of 
Facilities Engineering and Operations (``OFEO'') of the Horticulture 
Services Division (``HSD''). This office provides services for the 
Smithsonian museums and units through planting for exhibits and special 
events, and through development and management of the Smithsonian 
public gardens.
  I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) and the other 
congressional Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for introducing 
this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5492.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, once again I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 5492, and I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H1455]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5492.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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