Well, i understand the raking member is on his way. Since we have kind of a tight schedule and we have a quorum, ill start and he can give his Opening Statement. Here he is now. The committee will come to order. We want to welcome everyone on this hearing providing oversight to the Smithsonian Institution. In 1836 congress accepted a bequest from james smithson, an english scientist who had never visited the United States but nevertheless decided to leave his substantial fortune to our Young Country for the increase in diffusion of knowledge. Ten years later in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was formally established by congress. In the 173 years since, the smithsonian has grown to a complex of 19 museums, Numerous Research centers, a library system, a network of more than 200 affiliate organizations, archives and the national zoo. Today the smithsonian serves as steward to more than 154 million artifacts, works of art and specimens. Visitors from across the country and around the world flock to see this broad collection. And in 2018 alone, there were nearly 29 million visits so the smithsonian. The smithsonian also works with entities around the world to advance critical scientific discovery and research. Earlier this year, thanks in large part to the smithsonian as fiscal leadership, the first ever image of a black hole was unveiled to the public. I was so honored to meet the scientists who affiliated with the smithsonian who were responsible for that photo. Just last week we learned Smithsonian Researchers in the amazon discovered a new species of electric eel described as the most powerful as ever. The Smithsonian Institute, however, is not without challenges as it continues to work through the Strategic Plan. These challenges need to be addressed for the smithsonian to carry out his mission to increase and if diffuse knowledge and they include a deferred maintenance backlog approaching nearly 1 billion, a shortage of Storage Space for the institutions evergrowing collection, insufficient diversity among smithsonian staff and leadership and inadequate Information Technology security. The smithsonian is also in the midst of a largescale, multiphase renovation of the national air and space museum. These challenges exist in the context of a transition period for the smithsonian which as of june this year has a new secretary and were honored to have secretary bunch join us this morning for his first appearance before congress as secretary. In addition to these challenges, there are a number of congressional proposals for new museums at various levels of maturity. These proceed proposals include hr1980, smithsonian womens history act and hr2420, Representatives National museum of the american latino act. These proposals would establish american an American Museum of womens history and a National Museum of american Latino History respectively. Similar to the authorizing legislation for the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, these proposals contemplate a combination of federally appropriated and privately raised funds to finance the construction of Museum Building and direct the smithsonian positive appoint a director to manage the museum. This hearing will inform the Committee Consideration of these proposals as well. Before i formally introduce our witnesses, i would like to recognize our Ranking Member davis for any comments he would like on the Smithsonian Institution oversight hearing. Welcome, mr. Davis. Thank you that chairperson lofgren for holding this hearing and both witnesses who are testifying for the first time before our committee. Its not that scary, is it . All right. We certainly hope youll come back. I do want to thank you, secretary bunch, for bringing the cast of the hands of one of my most famous constituents from springfield, illinois. Some places in illinois, abe lincoln might still be able to vote, but not in springfield. We have before us an opportunity to hear from you and im really honored that youve become secretary. I certainly look forward to working with you. Youve already scored a big success with apollo 50. It was a great tribute to apollo history. The smithsonian has become the Worlds Largest museum, education and research complex. The institution preserves and celebrates our nations Cultural Heritage and advances scientific discovery in multiple disciplines. On behalf of the american people, congress, the board of regents and the smithsonian management, you have a responsibility to ensure the continued success of the institution for future generations. The smithsonian has a broad mission. The increase in diffusion of knowledge. In a bold Strategic Plan to support that mission. The critical goal in the plan is to reach 1 billion people a year through a digitalfirst strategy. Making the smithsonians rich collections, firstclass research and empowering educational materials accessible to americans across the country, not just those who visit washington, d. C. That needs to be a fundamental part of the institutions strategy moving forward. Im particularly pleased my former boss and mentor congressman john shimkus serves on the board of regents. It allows him to provide the smithsonian with perspectives. I look forward to hearing from you, secretary bunch, on how to achieve this goal. As a large and complex organization with 19 museums and the national zoo, multiple Research Centers and an international presence, the smithsonian also faces significant risks and challenges. First to mind is the smithsonians current 900 million renovation of one of the worlds most visited museums, my twin boys favorite, the national air and space facility on the national mall. Thats being done while a portion remains open, thankfully to the visiting public. Additionally, increasing maintenance backlog that is just over 1 billion. Furthermore, inadequate Storage Space for collections. Finally, reports identified much needed i. T. Security improvements. I welcome the Inspector Generals comments on these and other risks facing the institution and look forward to discussing the smithsonians approach to addressing them. In addition, there are several proposals for new Smithsonian Museums. Establishing a new museum is a complex undertaking and should be carefully considered to ensure its success. With his experience as founding director of the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture, we are hopeful that secretary bunch can provide the committee with insight into the issues surrounding the establishment of new museums and the keys to success in doing so. Finally, secretary bunch, im excited about the possibility of your visiting springfield, illinois. In my direct, which happens to be the site of the 1908 race riots and the birthplace of the naacp. The committee would love to have you view the artifacts being excavated right now and tour the site which the department of interior just determined was suitable as suitable for a National Historic monument. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from our witness and i yield back. Gentleman yields back. Other members Opening Statements will be put into the record by unanimous consent. I would like to note we have in our audience today congresswoman carolyn maloney, who is the author of the Womens History Museum bill, which it now has a sufficient number of cosponsors to actually pass the house. So, welcome, representative maloney. Id like to welcome our witnesses. Joining us this morning are the secretary of the smithsonian, lonnie bunch, and the smithsonian Inspector General, kathy helm. Secretary bunch is the 14th secretary of the smithsonian and id like to highlight has been mentioned by the Ranking Member, the first africanamerican to lead the institution. He assumed the role of secretary in june 2019. While secretary bunch is new to his current position, hes certainly not new to the smithsonian. From 2005 until this year he served as director of smithsonians National Museum of africanamerican culture. A spectacular museum. If people have not yet visited it, i highly recommend you do so. When he started that job in 2005, mr. Bunch had one staff member, no collections and no dedicated museum site. Thanks to his leadership since the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture opened in 2016, it has welcomed more than 5 million visitors. Its compiled a collection of 40,000 objects that are housed in the first Green Building on the national mall. He has served as the president of the Chicago Historical society, as associate director for the curatorial, also an accomplished author having written on topics ranging from the american presidency to diversity in museum management. His most recent work, a fools erra errand is about his experience creating the africanamerican History Museum. Really a crowning glory of an achievement for you, sir. Were so honored. After the hearing he has brought some artifacts from the smithsonian for us to look at, which are really something special. Please, do take the time after the hearing to take a look at them. Kathy helm has been serving as Inspector General for the Smithsonian Institution since 2014. Shes responsible for conducting audits and investigations, keeping the board of regents and congress informed about problems and deficiencies, promoting efficiency and effectiveness within the smithsonian and preventing and detecting fraud, waste and abuse. Inspector general helm serves as vice chair of the Audit Committee for the council on Inspector General integrity and efficiency and in charge of a small group of general inspectors who meet quarterly to exchange ideas. Before she joined the smithsonian, she worked at deputy Inspector General at the u. S. Government Accountability Office where she helped lead audit and investigative programs. Welcome to both of todays witnesses. We thank you so much for coming. At this time i would ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and all written statements may be made part of the record. Without objection, that is so ordered. Ill remind the witnesses that your entire statement will be part of the record. We ask you to summarize your written statement at about five minutes. When the five minutes is nearing up, the little light will turn yellow and when its red, it means there are five minutes up. We would ask you to wind it up. The record will remain open for at least five days for additional materials or questions to be submitted to you. So, now we will turn to you, secretary bunch. Welcome, and were eager to hear your testimony. Thank you so much, chairperson lofgren, Ranking Member davis and members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to testify today. My tenure as the 14th secretary of the smithsonian has been only a few short months, but as youve mentioned, my relationship with this institution goes back to when i was a 26yearold kid. I was so honored to serve as founding director of the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. I am more than pleased, in fact, im humbled, to assume the role as secretary of this institution. The institution i love so much. The smith season yapp greatly appreciates the continued support of congress, the administration and the american people. And we take seriously the crucial role we play in advancing the civic, educational and scientific life of this nation. Our goal is to reach in meaningful ways at least 1 billion people worldwide. Nothing replaces the authentic artifacts we have on display, but we need to reach millions who cannot visit us in person, using all the Digital Tools available to us. I am committed to achieving this goal while protecting and securing our Digital Assets and those of the users of our technology. Cultural institutions are uniquely equipped to inspire and we magnify that ability when we truly reflect the rich tapestry of humanity. The smithsonian is committed to increasing and attracting a diverse and talented workforce. I am pleased that congress has supported the goal of telling more expansive and representative stories by shepherding legislation that advocates for new museums. In congress deems it to authorize the smithsonian to build a new museum and provides the necessary additional funds for that purpose and appropriates means for a longterm operation of the museum, then we will create a museum that exceeds all expectations. A new museum that builds on the standards of excellence set by the smithsonian. But in the interim, the institution is committed to making every single Smithsonian Museum and program more inclusive and more representative of the nations population. It is, as you pointed out, crucially important that we recognize the smithsonians pressing infrastructure and collection space needs that demand our immediate and ongoing attention. We so appreciate the support of congress in the renovation of the national air and space museum. Just as important we are crateful for the ongoing support of maintenance needs throughout the institution. Regarding american womans History Museum legislation, both the house and the senate bills largely mirror the successful model employed by the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Both bills call to construct the museum with 50 federal and require the smithsonian to raise 50 from nonfederal sources. Legislation has also been introduced coined to create a National Museum of the americanlatino in order to showcase the life, art, history and culture of americanlatinos and their contribution to the United States. This legislation also follows the model of a National Museum. While i do have are experience with private fundraising, it is simply impossible to pursue projects of this magnitude without explicit appropriations of federal funding for projects at the very genesis. If authorized and funded by congress, wed be honored to add these museums to the smithsonian family. As Congress Makes these deliberations, we will work diligently to tell a broader, more complete story with our resources. An example of this desire is our american womens History Initiative because of her story, which was launched in 2018. Because of her story represents a paradigm shift, it allows the entire smithsonian to wrestle with how issues of gender have shaped the American Experience. We are grateful to congress for this support. We are also so proud to be able to unveil in the fall of 2021 the first gallery to explore latino culture to open on the national mall. And weve worked very hard to make sure that the smithsonian Asian Pacific center, which was served to include the Asian Pacific americans, continues to research, build collections, do exhibitions and programs. They, too, are also fundraising for the first gallery dedicated to them. Our work to increase knowledge is never ending. The institution has been conducting groundbreaking research in science and marine and terrestrial environment and reproducing our on animals from around the world in their national habitat. Ultimately what i want to do is say that museums are more important now than ever because of their ability to serve as trusted sources of information. We want the people to see the smithsonian as a tool to help them understand their universe, their history and our shaped future no rd to live better lives. Its incumbent upon us as an institution to be a more universal resource, ones that earns the american Peoples Trust and leverages our great convening power to increase our relevance. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify. Im happy to answer any and all questions. Thank you very much. Now well hear from you, miss helm. Yes, chairman lofgren, Ranking Member davis and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the role of the office of Inspector General and the oversight of the smithsoni smithsonian. As you know, oigs mission is to promote the efficiency, effectiveness and integrity of smithsonians programs and operations. We do this through independent and objective audits and investigations. Today my testimony will focus on our work related to management challenges in the area of collection management, Facilities Management and security. Collections are at the core of the smithsonian. Our office has done extensive work examining collection stewardship. For instance, we reported in 2015 that the smithsonian faces challenges to fully implement the plan that is to ensure the Proper Storage of its collections. Because of its estimated cost, more than 1 billion over 30 years. And the need to balance competing demands to fund other Capital Projects. Currently we are assessing inventory controls of the smithsonians newest museum, africanAmerican History and culture. The smithsonian also faces challenges with deferred maintenance for its facilities. Because it is spending less than the recommended amounts to maintain the condition of those facilities. In fiscal year 2017, the smithsonian had a deferred maintenance backlog approaching 1 billion. Deferring maintenance can reduce the overall life of facilities and may lead to higher cost in the long term. Eventually deferred maintenance requires a major capital investment. In fact, the smithsonians 650 million Capital Project to revitalize the national air and space museum includes more than 250 million of deferred maintenance. Security is also a challenge. Information Technology Security is a growing risk for all organizations. Security breaches cost money, disrupt operations and erode public trust. Each year our office evaluating the effectiveness of smithsonians Information Technology security program. While the smithsonian has made steady progress in improving this program, it is not yet fully effective. We recently reported that individuals received preemployment background investigations but that the smithsonian has no assurance that employees receive the appropriate level of postemployment background investigation. Moreover, the smithsonian could have saved a third of its program cost in fiscal year 2016 if it had used an automated tool to determine the appropriate level of investigation for its retail employees. We also found Computer Network access had been granted to individuals who had not received background investigations. Finally, in todays world, the importance of a skilled, well trained Security Guard force is more important than ever. In a recent report, oig found new Security Guards were allowed to graduate from basic training, although they had missed one or more days of instructions. Moreover, guards only had to qualify on their firearms once a year rather than twice as year as recommended by best practices. Thank you, chairman lofgren, ranking minority Ranking Member davis, and members of the committee. This concludes my statement. Im happy to respond to any questions you may have. Thank you, both, for your testimony. Now is the time for members to ask questions. I have a few. Secretary bunch, one of the great things about being new is youre not responsible for any of the problems. All you get to do is solve those that have been identified. So, im wondering in terms of the Cyber Security issues that have been identified, as well as the affirmative action deficits that you found, what are your plans to approach those identified issues . In terms of Cyber Security, what we really appreciate has been the guidance we received from the Inspector General. This is a high priority for me. Weve taken many steps to try to make sure we filled all the holes, we recognize, however, that Cyber Security is going to be an ongoing issue and were committed to having the appropriate level of training and the appropriate staff expertise to make sure we can respond to the ongoing challenge. My whole career has really been about making sure that a diverse array of scholars, educators, employees are allowed to help shape an institution and make it better. It is really clear to me that the smithsonian has made amazing strides in my time there. But it is still very much a challenge. And i am committed to actually looking at diversity, not just in staff but on the boards that also shape the smithsonian. So, ultimately for me, i think when my tenure is up, one of the things i expect is the smithsonian to have a much more diverse leadership and really be the kind of place that mirrors the america we believe in. Thank you for that. That leads me to my next question, which is the new museums that have been proposed that really reflect the greater diversity of our wonderful country. First, the Womens Museum that has so many cosponsors, but also the Latino Museum that representative serrano is supporting, and its not as far along, but the proposal for an asianAmerican Museum. Im wondering, what do you think are the next steps we could take as a congress to move those along . I know theres been substantial fundraising for the Womens Museum and efforts under way for the others. I hear your testimony that we also need to appropriate funds. It seems to me that the way to move this forward is to authorize these museums, which then will challenge our appropriators to match the private funds that have been raised with public funds. Your thoughts on that. I think its important after going through 11 years of building a National Museum, its really clear that in order to move forward, one of the first things we need to do are identify, what are all the challenges . Some of those are about funding and resources. Some of those are about the process of how that funding gets released. Also it is really the recognition that this is a longterm commitment. And that i think that if this is authorized, we would then really expect to do what we did with the National Museum of africanamerican culture and history. Which is have a period of several years to actually move this forward, to study what exactly were talking about, what are the collections needs, what are the building needs, what are the scholarship needs, so that we would then have a better idea of what the cost would be, but i think the key is to have that commitment to recognizing that its a challenging endeavor, its an endeavor that challenges the smithsonian, candidly, but an endeavor we can do. I think were very lucky to have someone leading the whole institution who actually brought a fabulous museum from concept to reality. Just one final question. The smithsonian recently conducted a very successful fundraising campaign. It raised 1. 88 billion in the course of about eight years. Can any of these private funds be used to address the backlog of deferred maintenance . Or what will those funds be used for . I think a lot of those funds are committed to specific things. To educational programs, to supporting some of the research initiatives. We will always look at wherever we can take resources and put it towards deferred maintenance and other issues. But as you know, deferred maintenance isnt sexy. No. And so many of the donors are not interested in putting their money in that regard. So we have to look towards the federal government. We have to look to be more creative in the kinds of partnerships we put together that will allow us, ultimately, to do a better job of using those funds. Thank you, mr. Secretary. I turn now to the Ranking Member, mr. Davis, for his questions. Thank you, madame chair. You know, the concern of postemployment background checks, huh . What are you hiding, mr. Secretary . Im more than willing to offer up mr. Aguilar. Are you okay with that, poo et . How concerned are you with the backlog of maintenance and what is your strategy to reduce it . Im very concerned about this. I think were looking at prioritizing very clearly in a triage method, what are the priorities we have to do, what is it about mission critical, what is about public safety, safety of the collections . Were doing a better job of making sure were putting what limited resources we have in the priorities that we that were focusing on. Were also looking at what are creative ways like with the renovation of the air and space museum that were able to bring funds in that will allow us to get to some of those backlogs. Were also looking very carefully at some of the initiatives that allow us to look at maintenance like the south mall master plan. Looking to see, is that the best way we can accomplish these things . Im committed now to revisiting this, taking a hard look at it and figuring out whats the best way we can use those limited resources. Right. Thank you. The institution must be i have to say, after seeing the caption for the portrait of Ronald Reagan at the National Portrait gallery, i had some concerns. How does the smithsonian ensure it remains an honest broker of that information . I want to emphasize to you how important it is in your new role of being seen as nonpolitical and nonpartisan. I think it is cruelly important to emphasize throughout the organization that we are a nonpartisan entity. I think the greatest strength of building the museum of africanAmerican Museum. That we were perceived to work on both sides of the aisle. I think its crucial to understand that things like label copy, we always vet them. We review them through the curators, through the directors of the museum when there are issues that are that go beyond that that are brought to the secretarial level. We are committed to using our research, using our scholarship. That guides what we do. Not Political Considerations but the best evidence that comes from the research that we have. Thank you. Take a look at the reagan caption again, then we can talk after that. You mentioned, miss helm, the digitization of the collections will help improve management collection. Have you been able to assess the smithsonians digitization plan, the pace of digitization, and if so, whats your assessment . Yes. Several years ago we did a report where we looked at the collection storage plan as well as the digitization plan. And found that the smithsonian was working towards digitization, is committed to it. But it will be a longterm effort that will require time and resources. Lets hope it beats the keenan renewal project. Secretary bunch, reaching all d. C. Area k12 students is a worthy effort in your Strategic Plan. Can you discuss your plans to achieve it . Do you plan to extend that reach more broadly across the country as i mentioned in my Opening Statement . I believe that the smithsonian is one of the most important educational institutions in this country. And that it really needs to play a role not just in the traditional way museums do work, but in nontraditional ways. Really figuring out, how do we put the resources we have to really help improve k through 12 education. I have made that a cornerstone of my tenure. Ive said that its not enough just to bring kids into the smithsonian. What you really need to do is make sure were helping people wrestle with the curricular challenges, helping students get the fullest journey possible. I want to use what were doing in the District Of Columbia as a pilot, to test how it is that the smithsonian can really not only help children but excite teachers and give teachers midcareer rejuvenation, create opportunities for parents to be part of that learning journey for their children. What i hope will happen is that the ideas we test, both the actual ideas and the idea the virtual ideas well use in the district will allow us to then continue to expand the work we already do nationally. I am committed to the smithsonian ultimately being a place that influences, enhances and enriches k through 12 education throughout the United States. Thank you both. I yield back. The gentleman from maryland is recognized. Madame chair, thank you. Welcome ms. Helm, mr. Bunch. Congratulations, mr. Bunch, on your new book and on your very inspiring and successful servic services. The director of Museum Services on africanAmerican History and culture. My first question is about that. Its obviously inspired other efforts, as the chair was saying, to create, you know, a museum on the women, american women, on a Latino Museum, an americanasian museum. Tell me, one of the remarkable things about the africanAmerican Museum is first of all, i think its now the most Popular Museum destination, is that right . One of the most popular. Its one of them, yeah. But its a remarkable thing when you go over there because you get people coming from all over the place, all over the world, all over america. Large multiracial, multicultural crowds coming in to check it out. And so im wondering if you would just reflect for a moment on how museums that focus on a certain dimension of the American Experience can speak universally to everybody in the country and how should we think about all of these proposals coming forward for other museums similar to that. I think the most important thing that we did in building the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture was saying from the beginning, this is not a museum by a community for a particular community. We said, this is around opportunity to understand america through the lens of an africanamerican community. And what that meant is it became the story for us all. That everybody could find themselves in that story. Whether they were interested in our notions of liberty, our notions of citizenship. What i think the major contribution would be is that any museum thats created, whether thats a Latino Museum or Womens History Museum, were not trying to create that ancillary story. Were trying to say, this is the best way, another way to understand america. And i think that makes it not something that is separate but part of the glue that helps us understand our identity. Well, i think you achieved precisely that vision in a remarkable way at this museum. It is a window into American History for all of us. And it deepens everybodys appreciation of what america is. So, i salute that vision and i hope its one that we will continue to realize as we move forward with other projects in the future. The art and Industries Building reopened as a space for special events. What do you envision as the longterm plan for use of this building . The arts and Institution Building is one of my favorite buildings in the smithsonian. I think what we want to do now, weve put together people working on what is the longterm future for that building . Right now were committed to sort of doing major exhibition that will be part of our celebration for 175th anniversary of the smithsonian in 2021. I think that in the meantime, were now looking at what does it mean to think to rele think the works of the Castle Building and arts and industry building and to see how were going to use those. At this stage ive just put people on that. I will get briefed. Its one of my priorities to figure out what is the longterm use of the a i building and the castle. Okay. Youre getting input from, presumably, the board and other stakeholders . What were doing is not only looking at what the staff thought or the board of regents are very involved in that. We will do what i always do when we think of longterm use, well reecht out to a variety of communities and stakeholders to get an understanding of what they want. I think its really crucial for us to recognize that the history of the smithsonian is tied up in those two buildings. And we want to make sure theyre always there to serve the american public. Okay. I know about the big revitalization project going on with air and space. What other major facilities projects do you foresee for the smithsonian in the next five to ten years . Well, i think really the big ones are the arts industry and the castle, is to figure out what were doing there. And then to really make a determination about what the south mall master plan really is. To look at those questions. The other thing will be beginning to look at a Sculpture Garden for part of the hershorn museum. How do we make sure the mall is visitorfriendly and serves as great entrances to all the museums. I think those are some of the things well be looking at in the next several years. My time is up. I yield back, madame chair. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Thank you, madame chair. Thank you for being here. Ive allegatioways been a huge the smithsonian, so this is a chance we can engage with you guys to make sure that we have plans and policies in place for longterm sustainability of this national asset. Of course, theres always concerns that are arisen that rise, challenges we must face. So, i appreciate your willingness to step up and take the lead and hopefully resolve some of the issues that are out there. And there isnt an agency or organization that doesnt face some of these issues. I do have some specific questions about some of the challenges, especially on the deferred maintenance backlog. And i know that can be a or it is a significant challenge at this point. And so, ms. Helm, what is the current cost in dollars as far as the the maintenance deferred maintenance backlog today . I believe for fiscal year 2017 it was approximately 937 million. Okay. Getting close to 1 billion. Right. Approaching 1 billion. As far as the timeline, how deep does this go . How far back are some of the maintenance issues . How long have they been out there . So, the deferred maintenance backlog has been around for a long time. And is created by the fact that the National Research Council Recommends that Government Agencies spend between 2 to 4 of the replacement value of their buildings. And the smithsonians budget has been about 1 . So, each year the backlog just continues to grow. Do you know what the long if i was to look at the list of the backlog, whats the oldest date . Do you know . I do not know that. Does it go a decade or five years . I could get that information for you. Okay. I would appreciate it. Id be happy to. Secretary bunch, whats your plan to go after the backlog . Are you looking to get more to the 2 to 4 in expenditures . I think my goal is to try to be at 2 to 4 to try to get around 2 . Id like to get at 3 . I think the challenge for us is to figure out, all right, how do we make sure when looking at congressional appropriation that we have money that will allow us to grow in that direction and also to think creatively maybe more about, are there opportunities when were fundraising for the projects that people are excited about, is there a way to layer in some support for backlog . I think thats what were going to be looking at. I dont have an answer yet, but ill have it soon. Id appreciate anything you can do. You know, from a prior Business Owners perspective and all this, you clean house before you expand and, you know, through the discussions of potential new museums, which im very excited about, i think its important we kind of get the house clean before we look at expanding any more. My concern would be further expansion creates more of a backlog unless we address that early. Id appreciate anything that you can provide us on plans to move forward because i think as this institution goes from a funding mechanism, a solid plan would help us in being able to appropriate more towards that. I do have some questions on information securities, since that is my background, but first, the 900 million cost for renovation for air and space museum, when i looked at that, i thought it had to be a mistake. I asked my staff to go back and look at it again. They said, no, thats the cost. It just seems very high to me since it was the cost to build the africanAmerican Museum was 540 million, museum of bible was 500 million. The nationals pashlg from construction from was only 701 million. Trump tower was 300 million. Why such a high cost, almost 1 billion for refurbishment . I think, first of all, you know its often cheaper to build new than than to refurbish, and of this is that it is also the opportunity to upgrade all of the systems, and to make sure that this is an effective green light museum that we can make, and also even though the building is opened in 1976 in terms of the life of the construction of that time, this building has been around a long time, and so in essence what we are trying to do is to do almost what you said about the deferred maintenance, and we want to fix it all, and we do not want to postpone things so that my next whoever is following me has to wrestle with the air and space museum. I appreciate that, and it is out of time and i will submit my questions to information that you are doing, and as a air and space museum as an aviator, that is one of my most frequented museums and i thank you for that. I yield back. Thank you, the chair recognizes you. Thank you, for your leadership as well. I am so glad that you had the opportunity to talk about the opportunity of the delivering the africanAmerican Museum of culture is informing you. I still remember that day. I am hopeful that it makes a difference for all of us, and we appreciate the fact that you are there. I wonder if you could just, a few more thoughts about the importance of the treasures that we have on the mall for the smithsonian for the young people in our country and i ask students who have been in the classrooms if they have been to washington, d. C. , before, and maybe by the eighth grade they have come, but it is most often not the case. I was with a class the other day, and while that is a local effort, it is incredible to me that, you know a large number of our children throughout this country never make it here to the capitol and to see these treasures that we have. So as we can think more about that, and collaborating with the local communities, and that would be helpful. Obviously the role of teachers is critically important to be able to translate that experience to young people as well. If you have thoughts about that, and the other thing that you want to ask briefly is that we are talking about the pressure and the need for more museums and there is so many interests that we want represented on the mall, and how much space do we have for that . How do you see that space as you can look at the entire mall, and areas that we could redevelop prans better on the mall. And where does that stand . Let me answer the last first. I think it is clear that there is very little space left on the mall. And that one of the questions is to begin to think about whats best use of what we have left, are there other spaces near the mall that ought to be used that can continue to be maybe spreading the influence of the smithsonian. I understand the power of the mall. It was really important to me that National Museum be on the mall. So i think that the key is to look at the space, and what we can do with what we have, but recognize that they are limited spaces on the mall. So they from the education point of view, the smithsonian is so amazing. I am thinking my career of holding the compass that lewis and clark held going across the country or looking at the apollo capsule, and so we have to find ways to get it around the country, and part of it is through the traveling exhibition, and all of things that we tend to do, but virtually. It seems to me that there ought to be a way that virtually the smithsonian can get into every classroom of the United States, and simple ideas of helping people to get the virtual lincolns top hat or the lewis and clark compass that they can make on the 3d printer to allow the teachers in the classroom to talk about the importance of citizenship or exploration, so the goal that i have challenged the educational staff is to say to me how can we touch every classroom, and share the wonders of the Smithsonian Research of art and history, and this is a major commitment, because i want people and children to be made better by the wonders of the smithsonian. Thank you. Appreciate, that and i will turn it back over to the chairwoman. The gentle lady yields back, and the gentleman from North Carolina is yielding back. Thank you for the testimony today, and dr. Bunch, thank you for your service not only to the smithsonian but to the country. I have to get used to calling you secretary bunch. And that is going to be a transformation for me, but i have followed your career down through the years and i have said it privately and i will say it publicly thank you. Thank you. You have a great challenge in front of you, and those of us on the committee will join hands with you and try to make the smithsonian better than it is. I will certainly do my part. But let me spend a couple of minutes to talk to you about diversity. You know how strongly i feel about it. We have talked about it over the years. Give me some appreciation for the workforce and the size of the workforce thats under your jurisdiction. There are approximately 7,000 people who work for the smithsonian. All based in d. C. . No, all over the country, and whether it is people who work out of the smithsonian astrophysical observatory in boston or the Tropical Institute in panama or in new york city where we have federal employees . Yes. On your payroll . Yes. And that in essence the goal for us is to make sure that these staff reflect the diversity of america. We are not there yet. Especially, i wanted to make sure that it reflects diversity at the senior positions, and make sure that we are not just looking at the lower introductory position, but senior curators and other institutions. The smithsonian has done a good job on gender and leadership, a of tand many of the women are directors and we have done a better job of embracing diversity of the racial and ethnic minorities in leadership levels. And the entryleveltype jobs, and what is the middle strata that is called. What do you call it . Career staff. And do you collect data on the demographics of these different layers . We have all of the data, and i can make sure that we can present it to you. And which category is the strongest, and the weakest in terms of the racial diversity . It is quite candidly at the lower levels. Guards, security, and low level administration. And so i think that within the levels where it is fundamentally shaping the smithsonian, and curators and scientists, and that is where we are working to improve it. What about the vendors . Do you have a vendor list . We do well with that. We have a strong supplier diversity program, that whether it is the fact of whether we built the National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture and we made sure that minorities and womenowned businesses received a higher percentage than before, and we did it throughout the smithsoni smithsonian, and i am pleased with that part of the smithsonian, and i am aware of the diversity there. And will you invest in and that build upon it . Yes, it is crucial to our success. You mentioned earlier in the testimony that the boards that shape the institution, and i dont quite understand what that means. So that each Smithsonian Museum has its own board. And these are boards that help with fundraising, help guide to institute, and the different museums for example. What i want to make sure is that we dont forget that they need to be made more diverse. That there are opportunities for people of color, women to play a more leading role in some of the boards. And so dozens of boards across the spectrum . Each museum has a board and some of the Research Entities have their own boards. Is that Data Available . We can make sure it is, sir. Thank you. Do you have organizational groups who will want to pretheir history and i wont ask about the financial resource, but the technical resources. Yes. We do it on several levels. Different museums do it in different ways. When i created a unit whose job it was to work with local museums to provide training, and to provide expertise, and so what i am hoping is that, it is a model that is going to be picked up by some of the other museums within the smithsonian, and we do a fair amount of training through some of the programs that we do, and when we do a sights exhibition that is training reaching out to local communities so that in essence, we want to do a much better job, and a more for mall job and i am looking to see how much do we emulate the model that we introduced at the museum of africanAmerican History and culture. That is exciting. Thank you. And the gentle lady from ohio is recognized. Thank you, chair. Thank you for joining us. I want to recognize that madam clerk came to us who just came from the smithsonian. Nice to see you. And mr. Secretary, let me say it is refreshing to have both the secretary and the Inspector General on the same page, and we dont hear that an awful lot. So thank you. Let me ask a question. You talked about the cost of deferred maintenance. I ask you beyond costs, are any selections actually at risk because of the deferred maintenance . It is important for us for me that we protect those collections, because thats what is really at the heart of the smithsonian, and we have really worked hard to make sure that collections are not at risk. We have worked hard to identify areas of concern, and well continue to do that. When we know that if there are collections at risk, we move quickly to try to protect them, and to give them the proper housing that they need. The goal however is that we are really stretched and we need the resources to continue to do things like build new storage pods out in sutland or out near the museum, and those are the things to allow us to provide not just bare maintenance, but the kind of the quality care that is at the heart of the smithsonian. Do you agree, madam Inspector General . Yes, i agree that the space plan has that as a goal. There are facilities that are identified as being unacceptable level, but im not aware of collections being at risk of immediate harm or anything like that. Let me ask this question. We are talking about now the revitalization of the national air and space museum. What do you do with the things like the large pieces of those collections while it is under way . What we do is that the goal is to try to give the public as much access to the collections as possible. So some of the large pieces that are moved out to the new storage pieces out in dulles and other areas out in suitland, but we try to make sure that there is enough on display so that the public is really still engaged and gets a lot of the history. And we also encouraged the people to go out to hoodvar facility out in dulles to continue the understanding and history of aviation. And now, is that is going to say physical storage or what does digittization do . It is going to reduce the use of them pulling them out, and it is going to get the collections out to broader possible audience, but not reduce the collections. The challenge for the smithsonian is to realize that we are always going to continue to grow the collections, and what we want to do is to make sure that we have the processes to make sure that it is crucially important when we collect something, and that we have the space and the resources to protect it. Go ahead. If there were one thing that you would ask us today that is your top priority, what would it be . Can i get two . I will give you two. All right. My top priority has to be making the smithsonian accessible virtually. To really make sure that we can educate the people around the country, and around the globe. I think that my second priority candidly is to find ways to address the backlog. That to make sure that the amazing facilities are protected and made accessible to the american people. Thank you very much. Madam chair, i yield back. The gentleman from california is recognized for five minutes. Thank you, madam chair. Secretary bunch, you talked about the creation of the creation of the National Museum of latino, and you have president bush who created the commission, and the report is completed in 2011, and gave a project cost, and im certain at the time of 6 600 million, and you mentioned identifying the future challenges involved if congress was to move forward and to give you guidance, and right now, there is authorizing the languages as the chair mentioned 179 members and the bipartisan fashion signed on to the bill. I know the sponsor that mr. Serrano has worked with you on the private public funding piece to make shufr thure that the la was sufficient, and what is the time line of when the bill is signed into law to the next steps and to ultimately a completion if history is our guide. What does that look like . Well, we took 11 years to build the National Museum of national africanamerican institute once we had leadership, because that is the key, the director, so i think that is the good framework. We might be able to do some things that can shorten a little. I have ideas about doing that, but the challenge of building the staff, raising, building the mechanism to allows us to raise the money, getting a better sense of what the content is really going to be, bringing on people who can help to think about the building, itself, and ultimately looking at what are the long term resource needs to make sure that when it opens, we recognize it is the beginning, and not the end of the process. So i think that it is a decadelong process once you actually begin by bringing on a director. I appreciate that. And this year, congressman serrano is working on the interior appropriations bill that would encourage the smithsonian report language to continue exploring the creation of the museum, and to look to programs, exhibits, collections and public outreach. You see any problems complying with the language that continues to give you guidance to move in that direction . Not at all. In fact, i would argue that one of the ways that you can shorten the period of building a museum if that is where we go is to really have curators to do exhibitions that allow us to begin to get the research. One that gets people excited and this is part of the key of raising the successful fund, and two is the great challenges is to be building the collection, and if we can do the work now that going to foreshadow some of the collections needs, and bring the collections into the smithsonian, that is going to allow us to move a little quicker. And following up on what my colleague mr. Butterfield talked about in, and i know that you are familiar in 1994, the Smithsonian Institute task force produced a report called the willful negligent, and since that report, the latinx workforce has risen 2. 7 to 10 , but unfortunately the growth has not met the same numbers at the executive level. So you started to answer mr. Butterfields question about, you know, the higher levels and curators and scientists and executives. Can you talk to me about what is done to increase the diversity at the executive level . One of the things thats important to me is as i look at whatever changes individuals i bring into the senior level, i want to make sure that the diversity is at the heart of what i am trying to do. I would be unbelievably disappointed if i didnt by the end of my tenure have a staff that is more diverse. It is a challenge in many ways, because people never leave the smithsonian, and my goal is to leave the smithsonian when it has diverse voice around the table. Thank you so much. Thank you, madam chair. Gentleman yields back and all members have had a opportunity to ask questions and as i mentioned the record is going on the remain open for five legislative days. We would like to thank you both for your testimony here today. I would note that i thispeak fo entire panel that we are so proud of the Smithsonian Institute that is a jewel that belongs to the american people. I was thinking and talking to the Ranking Member back in the mid1990s, i think that congress and vic phafazio was the lead a took the need to necessarily make the funding available to repair the Botanical Gardens and other museum, and it is not sexy, but they are held in trust for the american people. I think that one of the things that we need to do is to see whether this is not that kind of time to work with our appropriators to make sure that we are fulfilling our obligation to make sure that these jewels are maintained for future generations, and your leadership is very important in that regard. Unless there is further matters before us here, i thank you and the hearing is adjourned. Thank you. Also lye today on the cspan networks, this afternoon, remarks from the former National Security adviser susan rice who is expected to join other lawmakers and journalists and political strategists for a day of conversations at the Texas Tribune festival in austin. Live coverage at 3 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan. More from austin when politico interviews political strategists at the Texas Tribune festival. Scheduled speakers include representative mark med dose and montana president ial candidate steve bullic. That is on cspan. This weekend on American History tv. Saturday at 2 00 p. M. Eastern, historians will talk about the Lessons Learned from the reconstruction period after the civil war. The concept of whiteness before the civil war is a barrier of exclusion when the states said that only white men can vote. Whiteness was therefore used to exclude others, but in the civil rights act, whiteness becomes a baseline. If white people enjoy certain legal right, everybody else has to enjoy those rights also. At 8 00, on lectures in history, the deindustrialization of the United States in the 1970s and 80s and sunday at 2 00 p. M. Eastern, the psychological impact of flying on world war i pilot, and at 7 00, the women in the apollo program, and the challenges they have faced. There were cameras all over the place, but they were supposed to be in the room as a whole, and this camera was just on me, and i had no idea how long it had been on me. I didnt say anything about it. We didnt know the term Sexual Harassment or hostile workforce and there are two ways to think about it. One is that it is a little voyeuristic on the part of the dudes watching you, and it is sort of harassing an uncomfortable, and the other way to think of it is let them look and let them know, and everybody know who is not in the damn room know that there is a woman here. Im here. Get used to it. Explore our nations past every weekend on American History tv on cspan3. The house will be in order. For 40 years, cspan has been providing america unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the Supreme Court and Public Policy events from washington, d. C. , and around the country. So you can make up your own mind. Created by cable in 1979, cspan is brought to you by your local cable or satellite provider. Cspan, your unfiltered view of government. And now the cofounder of the Muslim Reform Movement and sarah carter of Fox News Contributor take part in a conversation about how antisemitism and muslim supremacy have become a threat to american security. This is part of the 2019 Steamboat Institute conference in steamboat, colorado
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