[House Report 111-276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                            Rept. 111-276
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     Part 2

======================================================================

 
  AUTHORIZING THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION TO 
   PLAN, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCT A VEHICLE MAINTENANCE BUILDING AT THE 
 VEHICLE MAINTENANCE BRANCH OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LOCATED IN 
               SUITLAND, MARYLAND, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

December 3, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3224]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 3224) to authorize the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct a 
vehicle maintenance building at the vehicle maintenance branch 
of the Smithsonian Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, 
and for other purposes, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 
do pass.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H.R. 3224 authorizes $4 million for the Board of Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design and construct a 
vehicle maintenance building in Suitland, Maryland.
    The current location, at the National Zoological Park's 
General Services Building, is unsuitable based on space 
constraints and potential environmental hazards. Vehicle 
maintenance currently shares space with the Zoo's Animal 
Nutrition Commissary, exhibit production shop, horticulture 
storage, merchandise warehouse and professional office 
functions. It creates additional traffic in an area heavily 
used by pedestrians and vehicles of Zoo visitors. It is not 
convenient to vendors who supply parts for vehicle maintenance. 
The narrow service drive makes access to service bays awkward. 
It does not have proper facilities to accommodate use of 
alternative fuels.
    The Suitland site allows for greater use of alternative 
fuels by many of the 780 Smithsonian vehicles and pieces of 
equipment, valued at more than $17 million, and better 
compliance with environmental regulations. Timing for the 
relocation is also propitious since the General Services 
Building is to undergo structural renovations beginning in 
fiscal 2012. The Smithsonian has determined that construction 
of a vehicle maintenance building at the Suitland site will be 
more cost-effective than leasing a facility.
    The Committee finds that public access and safety at the 
National Zoo would be better served by removing vehicle 
maintenance from a facility principally designed to accommodate 
animal care and the needs of the Zoo's millions of visitors. 
The Committee supports the planning, design and construction of 
the new facility at the Suitland site, which does not have 
significant public access traffic.

                          SUMMARY OF H.R. 3224

    Section 1. Authorizes the Board of Regents to plan, design 
and construct a vehicle maintenance building at the vehicle 
maintenance branch of the Smithsonian Institution located in 
Suitland, Maryland.
    Section 2. Authorizes appropriations of $4 million in 
fiscal 2010 for the project.

                  COMMITTEE REFERRAL AND CONSIDERATION

    H.R. 3224 was introduced on July 15, 2009, by the three 
House members currently serving on the Smithsonian Board of 
Regents. Rep. Becerra sponsored the bill with Reps. Matsui and 
Sam Johnson of Texas as cosponsors. It was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration as the primary committee, 
with an additional referral to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure.
    The Committee on House Administration considered H.R. 3224 
at a meeting on November 4, 2009. The bill was ordered reported 
favorably, without amendment, by voice vote, a quorum being 
present.

             MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

                         COMMITTEE RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of House rule XIII requires the results of each 
record vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with 
the names of those voting for and against, to be printed in the 
committee report. There were no recorded votes taken on H.R. 
3224.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

                GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    The Committee states, with respect to clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, that 
the goal and objective of H.R. 3224 is to improve motor vehicle 
maintenance functions at the Smithsonian and ensure greater 
safety for the visiting public at the Zoo.

                        CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY

    In compliance with clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the 
Committee states that Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. 
Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact this 
measure.

                            FEDERAL MANDATES

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act requires a 
committee report on any public bill or joint resolution that 
includes a federal mandate to include specific information 
about such mandates. The Committee states that H.R. 3224 does 
not include federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act requires a 
committee report on any public bill or joint resolution to 
include a statement on the extent to which the measure is 
intended to preempt state or local law. The Committee states 
that H.R. 3224 is not intended to preempt any state or local 
law.

                         EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

    In response to the requirements of clause 9 of rule XXI, 
the Committee reports that H.R. 3224 does not include any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with 
respect to the bill, the following estimate and comparison 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, November 12, 2009.
Hon. Robert A. Brady,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3224, a bill to 
authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 
to plan, design, and construct a vehicle maintenance building 
at the vehicle maintenance branch of the Smithsonian 
Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, and for other 
purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina 
Hawley Anthony.
            Sincerely,
                                      Douglas W. Elmendorf,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 3224--A bill to authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
        Institution to plan, design, and construct a vehicle 
        maintenance building at the vehicle maintenance branch of the 
        Smithsonian Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, and for 
        other purposes

    H.R. 3224 would authorize the appropriation of $4 million 
for the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct 
a vehicle maintenance building at their facilities in Suitland, 
Maryland. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 3224 would cost $4 million 
over the 2010-2014 period, as shown in the following table. 
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       2010      2011      2012      2013      2014    2010-2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorization Level................................         4         0         0         0         0          4
Estimated Outlays..................................         1         2         1         0         0          4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    H.R. 3224 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    On September 8, 2009, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for 
H.R. 3224 as ordered reported by the House Committee on 
Transportation on July 30, 2009. The two versions of the bill 
are identical, as are the two estimates.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Christina Hawley 
Anthony. The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                                  
