§50. Reception and arrangement of specimens and objects of art

Whenever suitable arrangements can be made from time to time for their reception, all objects of art and of foreign and curious research, and all objects of natural history, plants, and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United States, which may be in the city of Washington, in whosesoever custody they may be, shall be delivered to such persons as may be authorized by the Board of Regents to receive them, and shall be so arranged and classified in the building erected for the institution as best to facilitate the examination and study of them; and whenever new specimens in natural history, geology, or mineralogy are obtained for the museum of the institution, by exchanges of duplicate specimens, which the Regents may in their discretion make, or by donation, which they may receive, or otherwise, the Regents shall cause such new specimens to be appropriately classed and arranged. The minerals, books, manuscripts, and other property of James Smithson, which have been received by the Government of the United States, shall be preserved separate and apart from other property of the institution.

(R.S. §5586.)

Codification

R.S. §5586 derived from act Aug. 10, 1846, ch. 178, §6, 9 Stat. 105 .

Smithsonian Institution Transportation Program

Pub. L. 105–178, title I, §1214(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 204 , provided that:

"(1) In general.-The Secretary [of Transportation] shall allocate amounts made available by this subsection for obligation at the discretion of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in consultation with the Secretary, to carry out projects and activities described in paragraph (2).

"(2) Eligible uses.-Amounts allocated under paragraph (1) may be obligated only-

"(A) for transportation-related exhibitions, exhibits, and educational outreach programs;

"(B) to enhance the care and protection of the Nation's collection of transportation-related artifacts;

"(C) to acquire historically significant transportation-related artifacts; and

"(D) to support research programs within the Smithsonian Institution that document the history and evolution of transportation, in cooperation with other museums in the United States.

"(3) Authorization of appropriations.-There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003 to carry out this subsection.

"(4) Applicability of title 23.-Funds authorized by this subsection shall be available for obligation in the same manner as if such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code; except that the Federal share of the cost of any project or activity under this subsection shall be 100 percent and such funds shall remain available until expended."

National Health Museum

Pub. L. 105–78, title VII, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1524 , provided that:

"SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

"This title may be cited as the 'National Health Museum Development Act'.

"SEC. 702. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995.

"[Amended section 1067 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 176 of Title 10, Armed Forces.]

"SEC. 703. NATIONAL HEALTH MUSEUM SITE.

"(a) Site.-The facility known as the National Health Museum shall be located on or near the Mall on land owned by the Federal Government or the District of Columbia (or both) in the District of Columbia.

"(b) Rule of Construction.-Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the authority or responsibilities of the National Capital Planning Commission or the Commission of Fine Arts.

"(c) Definition.-In this section, the term 'the Mall' means-

"(1) the land designated as 'Union Square', United States Reservation 6A; and

"(2) the land designated as the 'Mall', United States Reservations 3, 4, 5, and 6.

"SEC. 704. NATIONAL HEALTH MUSEUM COMMISSION.

"(a) Establishment of Commission.-There is established a commission to be known as the National Health Museum Commission (hereafter referred to in this title as the 'Commission') that shall be comprised of eight members.

"(b) Membership.-

"(1) In general.-The members of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission as follows:

"(A) Two members shall be appointed by the President.

"(B) Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"(C) One member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

"(D) Two members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate.

"(E) One member shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

"(2) Persons eligible.-The members of the Commission shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise in matters to be studied by the Commission.

"(3) Chairperson.-The President shall designate one member as the Chairperson of the Commission.

"SEC. 705. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

"(a) Study.-It shall be the duty of the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the appropriate Federal role in the planning and operation of the National Health Museum, as well as any other issues deemed appropriate to the development of the National Health Museum.

"(b) Report.-Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Commission first meets, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a comprehensive report of the Commission's findings and conclusions, together with any recommendations of the Commission.

"SEC. 706. COMMISSION ADMINISTRATION MATTERS.

"(a) Application of FACA.-The National Health Museum, Inc. shall be responsible for administering all Commission activities in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

"(b) Compensation of Members.-Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

"SEC. 707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

"There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $500,000 for fiscal year 1998, to remain available until expended.

"SEC. 708. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.

"The Commission shall terminate 60 days after the Commission submits the report required under section 705(b)."

West Court of National Museum of Natural History Building

Pub. L. 103–151, Nov. 24, 1993, 107 Stat. 1515 , provided that:

"SECTION 1. PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF WEST COURT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY BUILDING.

"The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to plan, design, and construct the West Court of the National Museum of Natural History building.

"SEC. 2. FUNDING.

"No appropriated funds may be used to pay any expense of the planning, design, and construction authorized by section 1."

East Court of National Museum of Natural History Building

Pub. L. 101–455, Oct. 24, 1990, 104 Stat. 1067 , as amended by Pub. L. 103–98, §1(a), Oct. 6, 1993, 107 Stat. 1015 , provided that:

"SECTION 1. ADDITIONAL SPACE IN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

"The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to plan, design, construct, and equip approximately 80,000 square feet of space in the East Court of the National Museum of Natural History building.

"SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

"There is authorized to be appropriated to the Smithsonian Institution for fiscal year 1991 and succeeding fiscal years not to exceed $30,000,000 to carry out this Act."

[Section 1(b) of Pub. L. 103–98 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending section 2 of Pub. L. 101–455, set out above] shall take effect as of October 24, 1990."]

Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. Laboratory for Environmental Research

Pub. L. 99–617, §1, Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3488 , provided that:

"(a) Construction Authorization.-The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to construct the Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. Laboratory for Environmental Research.

"(b) Location.-The Charles McC. Mathias, Jr. Laboratory for Environmental Research shall be located at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution, located at Edgewater, Maryland.

"(c) Authorization of Appropriations.-Effective October 1, 1986, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution $1,000,000 to carry out the purposes of this section.

"(d) Transfer of Funds.-Any portion of the sums appropriated to carry out the purposes of this section may be transferred to the General Services Administration which, in consultation with the Smithsonian Institution, is authorized to enter into contracts and take such other action, to the extent of the sums so transferred to it, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes."

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Authorization of Construction and Appropriations

Pub. L. 99–423, Sept. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 963 , provided: "That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to plan and construct facilities for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

"Sec. 2. Effective October 1, 1986, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:

"(a) $4,500,000 for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory; and

"(b) $11,100,000 for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

"Sec. 3. Any portion of the sums appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act may be transferred to the General Services Administration which, in consultation with the Smithsonian Institution, is authorized to enter into contracts and take such other action, to the extent of the sums so transferred to it, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes."

Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory; Purchase of Land

Pub. L. 98–73, Aug. 11, 1983, 97 Stat. 406 , provided: "That the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to purchase land in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, for the permanent headquarters of the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory.

"Sec. 2. Effective October 1, 1984, there is authorized to be appropriated $150,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act."

Construction of National Museum of African Art, Center for Eastern Art, and Structures for Related Educational Facilities

Pub. L. 97–203, June 24, 1982, 96 Stat. 129 , provided: "That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to construct a building for the National Museum of African Art and a center for Eastern art together with structures for related educational activities in the area south of the original Smithsonian Institution Building adjacent to Independence Avenue at Tenth Street Southwest, in the city of Washington.

"Sec. 2. Effective October 1, 1982, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution $36,500,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act [this note]. Except for funds obligated or expended for planning, administration, and management expenses, and architectural or other consulting services, no funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall be obligated or expended until such time as there is available to such Board, from private donations or from other non-Federal sources, a sum which, when combined with the funds so appropriated, is sufficient to carry out the purposes of this Act.

"Sec. 3. Any portion of the sums appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act [this note] may be transferred to the General Services Administration which, in consultation with the Smithsonian Institution, is authorized to enter into contracts and take such other action, to the extent of the sums so transferred to it, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes."

Smithsonian Institution; Development of Property Adjacent to Original Building

Pub. L. 96–36, July 20, 1979, 93 Stat. 94 , provided: "That the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized to plan for the development of the area south of the original Smithsonian Institution Building adjacent to Independence Avenue at Tenth Street, Southwest, in the city of Washington.

"Sec. 2. Effective October 1, 1979, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution $500,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

"Sec. 3. Any portion of the sums appropriated to carry out the purposes of this Act may be transferred to the General Services Administration which, in consultation with the Smithsonian Institution, is authorized to enter into contracts and take such other action, to the extent of the sums so transferred to it, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes."

Smithsonian Institution Plans for and Construction of Museum Support Facilities; Approval of Plans and Specifications; Situs; Transfer of Land; Appropriations; Contracts by General Services Administration

Pub. L. 94–98, Sept. 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 480 , as amended by Pub. L. 95–569, Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat. 2444 , provided: "The Regents of the Smithsonian Institution are authorized to prepare plans for, and to construct, museum support facilities to be used for (1) the care, curation, conservation, deposit, preparation, and study of the national collections of scientific, historic, and artistic objects, specimens, and artifacts; (2) the related documentation of such collections of the Smithsonian Institution; and (3) the training of museum conservators. No appropriation shall be made to construct the facilities authorized by this Act until the Committee on Public Works and Transportation of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, by resolution approve the final plans and specifications of such facilities.

"Sec. 2. The museum support facilities referred to in section 1 shall be located on federally owned land within the metropolitan area of Washington, District of Columbia. Any Federal agency is authorized to transfer land under its jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution for such purposes without reimbursement.

"Sec. 3. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Smithsonian Institution $21,500,000 to carry out the purposes of this Act. Any portion of the sums appropriated for such purposes may be transferred to the General Services Administration which, in consultation with the Smithsonian Institution, is authorized to enter into contracts and take such other action, to the extent of the sums so transferred to it, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes."

[Amendment of section 3 of this Act effective Oct. 1, 1979.]

National Museum

The National Museum was not created by any express statutory provision for that purpose. It was first mentioned in an appropriation for postage for "the National Museum in the Smithsonian Institution," contained in act June 20, 1874, ch. 328, §1, 18 Stat. 103 . An appropriation for a building for the use of the National Museum was made by act Mar. 3, 1879, ch. 182, §1, 20 Stat. 397 , and annual appropriations have continuously been made for expenses of heating, etc., such building.

National Museum Exhibit

Res. Feb. 28, 1922, ch. 86, 42 Stat. 399 , authorized Secretary of State to transfer to custody of Secretary of Institution for safekeeping and exhibition in National Museum the sword of George Washington and the staff of Benjamin Franklin, presented by Samuel T. Washington, and the sword of Andrew Jackson, presented by family of General Robert Armstrong.

Transportation of Property

Quartermaster-General and his officers were required to receive and transport property for National Museum by a provision of act July 5, 1884, ch. 217, 23 Stat. 107 .

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 57, 67 of this title.