Norton Introduces Bill to Increase Transparency and Accountability at the Smithsonian Institution

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today continued her efforts to reform the Smithsonian Institution by introducing the Open and Transparent Smithsonian Act of 2015 to ensure that the Smithsonian is accountable to the public, whose taxpayer funds it receives. Norton said her bill would increase needed transparency by holding the Smithsonian to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act. Norton earlier this week introduced the Smithsonian Modernization Act of 2015 to require the Smithsonian's Board of Regents to be comprised entirely of private citizens, who can assist with fundraising, to replace highly-placed public officials currently serving on the board.

"The Smithsonian Institution could not continue as the nation's foremost cultural institution without the 70 percent of its budget that comes from federal taxpayers," Norton said. "There is no reason why its operations and deliberations should be kept from the public. The Smithsonian is not a private club. Even publically-traded corporations must have public meetings, save specifically named exceptions. FOIA requirements are quite ordinary rules that all federal agencies in an open and democratic society must follow, such as making board meetings and administrative records, among others, publically available, except for traditionally confidential matters, such as internal personnel issues and trade secrets. The recent history of mismanagement at the Smithsonian took place out of sight in a tax-supported entity whose meetings and proceedings were closed to the public. The fiduciary responsibility of the Smithsonian Regents demands not only considerable attention to ensure appropriate oversight, but also ensuring the public the opportunity to assess both the tax-supported entity and its federal overseers."

Source