 CHAPTER 3--SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--CHARTER PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 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. Sec. 5586.)

                          Codification

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


Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Submillimeter Array; Authorization 
                   of Construction and Appropriations

    Pub. L. 106-383, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1459, provided that:
``SECTION 1. FACILITY AUTHORIZED.
    ``The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is authorized 
to plan, design, construct, and equip laboratory, administrative, and 
support space to house base operations for the Smithsonian Astrophysical 
Observatory Submillimeter Array located on Mauna Kea at Hilo, Hawaii.
``SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Board of Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution to carry out this Act, $2,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2001, and $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2002, which shall remain 
available until expended.''


             Smithsonian Institution Transportation Program

    Pub. L. 105-178, title I, Sec. 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, Sec. 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, Sec. 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, Sec. 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, Sec. 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.
