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.

Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I join together today to introduce the ``Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008''.

I thank my colleagues, including Committee on House Administration Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Ehlers, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Mica and Subcommittee Chairwoman Norton, and the Congressional Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, Mr. Becerra, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, for their efforts to move this important legislation forward. I also thank the Smithsonian Institution for its effort on behalf of the legislation and welcome the new Secretary, Dr. G. Wayne Clough. I look forward to working with Secretary Clough as the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure works to address the enormous repair and maintenance backlog of the Smithsonian Institution facilities and ensure that its facilities meet the highest standards of energy efficiency and conservation.

The bill 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. The bill also authorizes the Board of Regents to construct laboratory space to accommodate the terrestrial research program of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (``STRI'') in Gamboa, Panama. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will consider the Smithsonian Institution Facilities Act on July 31. The Committee will also consider S.J. Res. 35, which provides for the construction of the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) project in Arizona. Earlier this year, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reported H.R. 5492, to authorize the Board of Regents to construct a greenhouse facility at its museum support facility in Suitland, Maryland, favorably to the House, and the House passed the bill by voice vote on March 11, 2008. The Committee hopes to bring S.J. Res. 35 to the House in early September. With passage of these bills, the House of Representatives will have completed action on the Smithsonian Institution's construction program for this fiscal year.

Section 2 of the bill authorizes the Board of Regents to design and construct laboratory and support space to accommodate the Mathias Laboratory at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The bill authorizes $41 million to design and construct the facility. SERC is a global leader in the study of ecosystems in the coastal zone. The 52,000-square-foot replacement laboratory will be connected to the existing structure to provide an operationally efficient and environmentally sustainable laboratory facility for SERC's research programs. The project will eliminate the use of temporary, unsafe trailers, address substandard, inefficient laboratory facilities, and will substantially reduce the facility's energy use and maintenance costs.

Section 3 of the bill authorizes the Board of Regents to construct laboratory space to accommodate the terrestrial research program of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, Panama. The bill authorizes $14 million to construct the 53,283-square-foot facility. 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, on the east bank of the Panama Canal. Gamboa is protected by geography from the encroachment of civilization and pollution. 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.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the ``Smithsonian Institution Facilities Authorization Act of 2008'', and I look forward to working together with my colleagues on these and other Smithsonian Institution issues.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5492, which is a bill to authorize appropriations for the Smithsonian for constructing of replacement greenhouses.

Mr. Speaker, the Smithsonian is widely renowned as a national treasure. Many of our constituents come from all over the country to visit its museums. There they can explore our culture, learn about our achievements, and view pieces of our history.

But the Smithsonian is much more than a keeper of artifacts. It has nine research facilities and is a leader in scientific research. The Horticulture Services Division provides a wide variety of services internally to Smithsonian museums, and more generally to the public through the Smithsonian's public gardens.

The Smithsonian has leased a 55,000-square-foot greenhouse complex for its horticultural operations since 1974. It is currently located on the property of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest Washington, DC.

The complex includes 12 greenhouses, an office for administrative and logistical functions, and a shade house. These greenhouses produce the institution's world-class orchid collection. They also provide space to grow a wide variety of plant materials for exhibits, gardens, and special events which would be costly or impossible to obtain commercially.

The greenhouses allow the Smithsonian resources equal to, if not surpassing, any other botanical institute in the world.

The greenhouse employees do this work with limited human resources. As true to most Smithsonian endeavors, the greenhouse staff is assisted in large part by a group of dedicated volunteer staff members. During fiscal year 2007, over 4,500 hours of time were donated by these individuals. Their commitment to the greenhouse facilities' programs is evident from their dedication, some of whom have donated over 25 years of service to the organization.

The current greenhouse site will be leased commercially, and the Smithsonian must begin work on replacement greenhouses at the Smithsonian Museum Support Facility in Suitland, Maryland. Moving the facilities is the most cost-effective way to preserve the greenhouses. The Smithsonian has also created a design that will help save money during construction.

Mr. Speaker, the important work being done every day by the Smithsonian horticulturists in the current facility is vital to the mission of the Smithsonian, the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

I appreciate Chairman Oberstar, Chairwoman Norton, and Ranking Members Mica and Graves for recognizing the significance of this relocation. H.R. 5492 will ensure that the collections thrive and the important work that is done at these facilities continues. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, once again I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5492, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5492 authorizes the Smithsonian Institution to construct greenhouses at its facility in Suitland, Maryland. The bill authorizes $12 million to construct the greenhouses. The Transportation Committee has researched the proposed cost of and the need for this greenhouse facility. We have done our due diligence on this project.

This greenhouse facility will produce the plants for the entire Smithsonian Institution complex, which is the world's largest museum complex. In addition, the facility will house the orchid collection held in trust by the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian currently conducts these activities at an aging facility located at the Armed Forces Retirement Home here in the District of Columbia. Because the retirement home is redeveloping the site, the Smithsonian will no longer be able to use the greenhouse facility located there.

These new greenhouses will enable the Smithsonian to continue producing its own plants after it loses access to the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

Satisfying the Smithsonian's requirements for plants on the open market doesn't make sense economically. Given the wide variety of plans required for the National Zoo and museums, it is more cost effective for the Smithsonian to grow its own plants rather than to purchase them.

The cost of this project is appropriate given the need for the greenhouse facility, as well as the work necessary to construct this particular type of greenhouse. I support the resolution. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any other requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5492, which authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to construct a greenhouse facility at its museum support facility in Suitland, Maryland.

The Smithsonian has leased a 55,000-square-foot greenhouse complex for its horticultural operations on the property of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (``AFRH'') in northwest Washington, DC, since 1974. The complex includes 12 greenhouses, space for administrative and logistical functions, and a shade house. The complex houses the 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 plans to lease the property where the greenhouse complex is currently located to real estate developers and could turn the site over to a developer as early as September 30, 2008, when the current Smithsonian lease expires, leaving the Smithsonian without a greenhouse facility.

This bill authorizes $12 million for the construction of a new greenhouse facility. This facility will support the Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations (``OFEO'') of the Horticulture Services Division (``HSD''). This office provides services for the Smithsonian museums and units through planting for exhibits and special events, and through development and management of the Smithsonian public gardens.

I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui) and the other congressional Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for introducing this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5492.