[House Report 110-842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Rept. 110-842
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session Part 2
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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION FACILITIES AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008
_______
September 15, 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. 6627]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 6627) to authorize the Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out certain
construction projects, 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. 6627, the ``Smithsonian Institution Facilities
Authorization Act of 2008'', authorizes the Board of Regents of
the Smithsonian Institution to design and construct laboratory
space to accommodate the Mathias Laboratory at the Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, and
authorizes the Board of Regents to construct laboratory space
to accommodate the terrestrial research program of the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (``SERC'') is
a global leader in the study of ecosystems in the coastal zone.
Founded on the site of an abandoned 1930s dairy farm in
Edgewater, Maryland, the SERC facilities include a mosaic of
farm buildings, the Mathias Laboratory, 10 temporary trailers,
an administrative building, and a variety of lab support
spaces. Nearly one-half of SERC's 146 employees and fellows
conduct the majority of their work in trailers. The Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution requests authority to
design and construct laboratory space to accommodate the
Mathias Laboratory at SERC.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (``STRI'') is
the principal United States organization devoted to research in
tropical biology. Tropical biology is critical to finding
untapped resources to add to the important supply of food,
pharmaceuticals, and fiber of tropical regions. STRI has
outgrown the space available at its current facilities and this
bill provides for construction of a new lab in Gamboa, Panama.
The terrestrial research program is critical to understanding
the role that tropical plants and soils play in global climate
change models and for enriching knowledge of tropical
biodiversity. The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution requests authority to construct laboratory space to
accommodate the terrestrial research program of STRI in Gamboa,
Panama.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 denotes the short title of the bill as the
``National Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act
of 2008''.
Section 2. Laboratory and support space, Edgewater, Maryland
Subsection (a) authorizes the Board of Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution to design and construct laboratory
space to accommodate the Mathias Laboratory at the Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center (``SERC'') in Edgewater,
Maryland.
Subsection (b) authorizes to be appropriated to carry out
this section for a total of $41,000,000 for fiscal years 2009
through 2011.
Section 3. Laboratory space, Gamboa, Panama
Subsection (a) authorizes the Board of Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution to construct laboratory space to
accommodate the terrestrial research program of the Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama.
Subsection (b) authorizes appropriations to carry out this
section for a total of $14,000,000 for fiscal years 2009 and
2010.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On July 29, 2008, Chairman James L. Oberstar introduced
H.R. 6627, the ``Smithsonian Institution Facilities
Authorization Act of 2008''.
On July 31, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session and ordered H.R. 6627
reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum
present.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules 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 consideration of H.R. 6627 or ordering the bill reported.
A motion to order H.R. 6627 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)(1) 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 design and construction of two Smithsonian
facilities.
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. 6627
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress
Congressional Budget Office
Washington, DC, August 25, 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. 6627, the
Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina
Hawley Anthony.
Sincerely,
Peter H. Fontaine
(For Peter R. Orszag, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 6627--Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008
H.R. 6627 would authorize the appropriation of $41 million
for laboratory and support space at the Smithsonian
Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, and $14
million for laboratory space at the Smithsonian Tropical
Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama. Assuming appropriation of
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R.
6627 would cost $55 million over the 2009-2013 period. Enacting
the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts.
H.R. 6627 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.
On August 25, 2008, CBO transmitted an identical cost
estimate for H.R. 6627 as ordered reported by the Committee on
House Administration on July 30, 2008.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Christina Hawley
Anthony. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine,
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, H.R. 6627 does not contain any
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.
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. 6627 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. 6627 makes no changes in existing law.