Chuck Grassley: “this amendment, as I said, focuses on the Federal Government's support for the Smithsonian Institution. The American…”

“this amendment, as I said, focuses on the Federal Government's support for the Smithsonian Institution. The American people, I believe, have been shocked and outraged to read in newspapers and see on their TVs a story about the out-of-control spending at the Smithsonian by the Secretary of the Institution: First-class air travel for the Secretary and his wife, a palace for an office, and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on the Secretary's own home for things such as chandelier cleaning and pool heaters are impossible to justify. As my colleagues know, the Federal Government provides over 70 percent of the Smithsonian's approximately $1 billion budget. Most of the rest of the budget comes from tax-preferred charitable donations. Directly or indirectly, the Federal taxpayers pay for almost everything in the Smithsonian. My amendment is very straightforward. The budget resolution provides for a $17 million increase for the Smithsonian. I commend the chairman of the Budget Committee for increasing the spending for the Institution, and I support that action. As a report issued today from the Smithsonian Arts External Review Committee made clear, there are very significant problems at the Smithsonian in terms of maintaining and protecting the Smithsonian infrastructure and exhibits. The Smithsonian is the keeper of America's treasures, and we want a museum we can all be proud of. So I support the additional $17 million.”