[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8350-H8351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION FACILITIES AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6627) to authorize the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out certain 
construction projects, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6627

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Smithsonian Institution 
     Facilities Authorization Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. LABORATORY AND SUPPORT SPACE, EDGEWATER, MARYLAND.

       (a) Authority To Design and Construct.--The Board of 
     Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to 
     design and construct laboratory and support space to 
     accommodate the Mathias Laboratory at the Smithsonian 
     Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section a total of 
     $41,000,000 for fiscal years 2009 through 2011. Such sums 
     shall remain available until expended.

     SEC. 3. LABORATORY SPACE, GAMBOA, PANAMA.

       (a) Authority To Construct.--The Board of Regents of the 
     Smithsonian Institution is authorized to construct laboratory 
     space to accommodate the terrestrial research program of the 
     Smithsonian tropical research institute in Gamboa, Panama.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section a total of 
     $14,000,000 for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Such sums shall 
     remain available until expended.

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


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to 
revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous material on H.R. 
6627.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 6627, the Smithsonian Facilities 
Authorization Act of 2008. This bill has bipartisan support, including 
support from Congresswoman Matsui, Congressman Becerra, and Congressman 
Johnson, who are Smithsonian regents. Majority Leader Hoyer and Ranking 
Member Mica are also in support of authorizing construction funding of 
these two renowned and vital Smithsonian facilities.
  The Mathias Research Center located in Edgewater, Maryland, is a 
global leader in the study of ecosystems in coastal zones. It was 
established in the 1930s on a dairy farm in Edgewater, Maryland. Nearly 
one-half of SERC's 146 employees and fellows conduct the majority of 
their work in trailers. A major part of SERC's mission is research and 
professional training of the next generation of environmental 
scientists.
  The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution requested 
authority to design and construct laboratory space to accommodate the 
Mathias Laboratory at SERC.
  The Board requested authority to upgrade and replace the facility to 
eliminate unsafe trailers and address substandard, inefficient labs. 
The facility and its support spaces need to be replaced.
  The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, located in Mathias 
Research Center, Panama, is the principal United States organization 
devoted to research in tropical biology which will advance scientific 
study and improve human welfare. Ecological catastrophes such as 
drought, starvation, and flooding caused by deforestation and 
overpopulation of tropical regions are studied for causes and remedies.
  This facility is a world-renowned research and education center 
dedicated to research and analysis of tropical ecosystems. The Board of 
Regents requested authority to replace current science building 
structure that is heavily infested with termites.
  I support these projects and the Board of Regents' request for 
construction authorization.
  I urge passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H8351]]

  Madam Speaker, H.R. 6627 authorizes construction of permanent 
structures to serve as Smithsonian research facilities in Edgewater, 
Maryland, and Gamboa, Panama. The new buildings will replace aging 
leased and temporary structure, and provide needed research space for 
the Smithsonian's research mission.
  As part of a comprehensive facilities management plan, the 
Smithsonian has identified these two research centers as facilities in 
need of permanent, modern research buildings. The construction of the 
laboratories authorized by this bill will enable the Smithsonian to 
reduce its leased space inventory and consolidate its research 
operations. This will also allow the Smithsonian to close 80-year-old 
buildings that are costly to operate and not suitable for renovation.
  Construction of new facilities in Gamboa will allow the Smithsonian 
to move out of general office space reconfigured for research and 
consolidate operations into a government-owned structure more 
appropriate and less costly for a modern research facility.
  The Edgewater, Maryland, research facility will finally have 
permanent structures after working for many years out of temporary 
trailers. These trailers are expensive to maintain, and have a short, 
useful life.
  Because the new buildings will be government-owned and cost less to 
operate and maintain, this legislation is expected to save money in the 
long term. The new facilities will be designed to meet the specific 
needs of the research centers.
  Government ownership of the structures will save taxpayer dollars by 
investing in assets that will continue to serve the Smithsonian 
Institution over time. The dilapidated buildings and trailers currently 
used consume building maintenance resources and are a liability to the 
government rather than an asset. Replacement of the old buildings will 
allow us to shift dollars from maintaining aging structures to creating 
modern, useful facilities.
  I am encouraged by the Smithsonian's responsible property management 
decisions in these two cases, and I ask my colleagues to please join me 
in supporting H.R. 6627.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6627, 
the ``Smithsonian Facilities Authorization Act of 2008''.
  H.R. 6627 authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution to design and construct laboratory space to accommodate the 
Mathias Laboratory at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center 
(``SERC'') in Edgewater, Maryland. The bill also authorizes the Board 
of Regents to construct laboratory space to accommodate the terrestrial 
research program of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 
(``STRI'') in Gamboa, Panama.
  The SERC is a global leader in the study of ecosystems in coastal 
zones. Founded on the site of an abandoned 1930s dairy farm in 
Edgewater, Maryland, the SERC facilities include farm buildings, the 
Mathias Laboratory, 10 temporary trailers, an administrative building, 
and a variety of lab support spaces. Nearly one-half of SERC's 146 
employees and fellows conduct the majority of their work in trailers. A 
major part of SERC's mission is to conduct research and professional 
training of the next generation of environmental scientists.
  The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution requested 
authority to design and construct laboratory space to accommodate the 
Mathias Laboratory at SERC. The Board requested authority to upgrade 
and replace the facility to eliminate unsafe trailers and address 
substandard, inefficient labs. The facility and its support spaces need 
to be replaced. The bill authorizes a total of $41 million for fiscal 
years 2009 through 2011 to design and construct the Mathias Laboratory.
  The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is located in Gamboa, 
Panama. STRI is the principal United States organization devoted to 
research in tropical biology. Both scientific advancement and human 
welfare depend on a continuing commitment to research in tropical 
biology for such things as finding untapped tropical resources to add 
to the important supply of food, pharmaceuticals, and fiber that we 
already get from the tropics, and to give us a better understanding of 
how to avoid further ecological catastrophes such as drought, 
starvation, and flooding caused by deforestation and overpopulation of 
tropical regions.
  The STRI facility is a world-renowned research and education center 
dedicated to research and analysis of tropical ecosystems. The Board of 
Regents requested authority to replace current science building 
structure that is heavily infested with termites. The bill authorizes a 
total of $14 million for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to construct the 
laboratory.
  Madam Speaker, over the past two years, the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution has worked to address numerous management 
shortfalls. I look forward to working with the Board of Regents and the 
new Secretary of the Smithsonian, Secretary G. Wayne Clough, as we 
continue to work together to improve the Smithsonian's management 
practices and carry out James Smithson's mandate of 1826: ``for the 
increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.''
  I thank Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member 
Mica, Subcommittee Chairwoman Norton, Committee on House Administration 
Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Ehlers, the Smithsonian Congressional 
Regents, Mr. Becerra, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. Johnson of Texas, and 
Majority Leader Hoyer for their support in authorizing construction 
funding of these two vital Smithsonian facilities.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6627, the 
``Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008''.-
  Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support 
of the act to replace these two facilities, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6627.
  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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