Jerry Moran: “The Smithsonian Institution is the world's leading museum complex. People from all over the world come to Washington…”

“The Smithsonian Institution is the world's leading museum complex. People from all over the world come to Washington, oftentimes with the principal intent of seeing the Smithsonian, but it is invariably part of their trip to our Nation's capital. It is something that every Member of the legislative branch should be very proud of. In fact, we should spend more of our time in those museums. They're extraordinary, every single one of them. They tell the story of our Nation's origin. They reflect the evolution of knowledge of the things that are relevant to our very existence. In addition to the traditional museums along our National Mall, we have a National Zoo--again, known throughout the world. But this amendment that would cut $55 million would wind up eliminating 600 positions from the Smithsonian because 90 percent of the costs of museums are personnel. {time} 2040 We're told that given the existing costs that have continued to increase over the last 4 years, not just personnel but particularly energy costs, the costs of maintaining the world's finest museum complex, that the Smithsonian would have to close at least one if not two major museums, or the National Zoo. It doesn't seem to me that in order to save a relative fraction of a bill--this bill is about $27 billion--in order to save--what is that, half a percent?--that we would want to close one or two of the finest museums in the world.…”