[DOCID: f:hr545.110]
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-545
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AUTHORIZING 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
_______
March 10, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5492]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred 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, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that
the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
H.R. 5492 authorizes 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.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Smithsonian Institution currently leases a 55,000-
square foot greenhouse complex on the campus of the Armed
Forces Retirement Home (``AFRH'') in Washington, DC, for its
horticultural operations. The complex includes 12 greenhouses,
a small office for administrative and logistical functions, and
a shade house. The Horticulture Services Division of the
Smithsonian Institution provides horticultural services to the
Smithsonian museums and units through planting for exhibits and
special events, and through development and management of the
Smithsonian's public gardens. The complex houses the
Smithsonian 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 is redeveloping the site that houses the
Smithsonian Institution greenhouses. The Smithsonian
Institution's lease expires on September 30, 2008, which
creates a need for the Smithsonian Institution to find
alternative space to house its horticultural operations. After
considering outsourcing, leasing, and construction options, the
Smithsonian Institution determined that the most cost-effective
solution to maintain the orchid collection and provide needed
plants for the Smithsonian museums and gardens is to construct
a new facility to house its horticultural operations.
H.R. 5492 authorizes $12 million to construct a new
greenhouse facility at the Smithsonian Institution's Suitland,
Maryland site. This project includes site preparation, a
10,900-square foot head house, and 44,500-square foot
greenhouse, along with outdoor growing and storage areas. To
limit design requirements, expedite construction, and reduce
costs, the Smithsonian Institution will use off-the-shelf
prefabricated building kits to construct the polycarbonate
plastic greenhouse.
In FY 2008, Congress appropriated $2.8 million for this
project in the ``Department of the Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008''. In FY 2009, the
President's budget requests $8.2 million for the project.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Construction of greenhouse facility
Section 1 authorizes the Board of Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution 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.
Section 2. Authorization of appropriations
Section 2 authorizes $12 million to be appropriated to
carry out this Act.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On February 26, 2008, Representative Doris O. Matsui
introduced H.R. 5492.
On February 28, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session and ordered H.R. 5492
reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum
present.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
requires each committee report to include the total number of
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter,
and the names of those members voting for and against. There
were no recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H.R.
5492 reported. A motion to order H.R. 5492 reported favorably
to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee
references the report of the Congressional Budget Office
included in the report.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goals and objectives of this legislation are 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.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5492
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, March 3, 2008.
Hon. James L. Oberstar,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5492, a bill 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.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina
Hawley Anthony.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Sunshine
(For Peter Orszag, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 5492--A bill 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
H.R. 5492 would authorize appropriations of $12 million for
the construction of a greenhouse facility in Suitland,
Maryland. The facility would be used by the Smithsonian
Institution to assist in the maintenance and preservation of
the orchid collection held in trust by the Institution.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates
that implementing H.R. 5492 would increase outlays by $12
million over the 2009-2013 period. The bill would not affect
direct spending or revenues.
H.R. 5492 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.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Christina Hawley
Anthony. This estimate was approved by Keith Fontenot, Deputy
Assistant Director for Health and Human Resources, Budget
Analysis Division.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list
of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of
rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
It is not clear if the definition of ``congressional
earmark'' under clause 9(d) of rule XXI applies to H.R. 5492
because the Smithsonian Institution has specifically requested
authorization to construct the greenhouse facility in Suitland,
Maryland. However, in the interests of full disclosure and
transparency, the Committee has required the sponsors of the
bill to comply with all requirements of clause 9(d), 9(e), or
9(f) of rule XXI:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Amount Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorize the Board of Regents $12 million....... Doris O. Matsui,
of the Smithsonian Institution Xavier Becerra,
to construct a greenhouse and Sam Johnson.
facility at its museum support
facility in Suitland, Maryland.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or
joint resolution of a public character shall include a
statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in
the Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (Public Law 104-4).
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H.R. 5492 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H.R. 5492 makes no changes in existing law.
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