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111TH CONGRESS REPT. 111–612 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session Part 1 

SMITHSONIAN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY INSTITUTE 

ENHANCEMENT ACT 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House 

Administration, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 5717] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 5717) to authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct a facility and to 

enter into agreements relating to education programs at the National Zoological Park facility in Front Royal, Virginia, and for 

other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill to pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 5717 would upgrade the Smithsonian Institution’s scientific 

and educational functions at its unique conservation facility at 

Front Royal, Virginia. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (formerly known as the Conservation Research Center), located at the Virginia site, and renowned worldwide for its work 

preserving and breeding endangered species, is a magnet for prominent researchers and students starting careers in related fields. 

The Front Royal facilities are a sub-unit of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (NZP) located in Washington, D.C. 

The legislation would authorize additional modern facilities to 

conduct programs and house students, and would relocate holding 

facilities for endangered red pandas and clouded leopards. The 

projects are included in the NZP’s Comprehensive Facilities Master 

Plan. The bill would provide the Smithsonian with substantial additional infrastructure at minimal cost, with a large majority of the 

funding to be obtained from non-Federal sources. The Smithsonian 

hopes to open the new facilities by the fall of 2012. 


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Section 2 of H.R. 5717 would authorize appropriations for $5 million to plan, design and construct facilities at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute which would include laboratories and 

offices, for the purpose of conducting research and educational programs. The bill would authorize $1 million in fiscal 2010, which 

has already been appropriated; $1 million in fiscal 2011; and $3 

million in subsequent years. The Smithsonian would supply an additional $5 million through its non-Federal trust funds. 

Section 3 would authorize the Smithsonian Institution to enter 

into an agreement with George Mason University (GMU) in northern Virginia, to construct a residential facility and a dining/commons facility at the site using $20 million in Virginia state revenue 

bonds, at no cost to the Smithsonian or the Federal government. 

Ownership of the facility would revert to the Smithsonian after 30 

years. In October, 2008, the Smithsonian and GMU signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding to establish the ‘‘SmithsonianMason Global Conservation Studies Program.’’ GMU would grant 

college credits to participating students. The program would enhance and expand the National Zoo’s history of providing educational classes and professional training for future generations of 

conservation and scientific professionals. The GMU-funded facilities would provide accommodations for approximately 120 professionals and students. 

Finally, Section 4 would authorize the Smithsonian to plan, design and construct animal holding and related program facilities 

from non-Federal sources. The project is needed because the existing holding facility would be subsumed within of the new education 

center construction. The cost, estimated to be $1 to $2 million, 

would derive exclusively from the Smithsonian’s private trust funds 

which are non-Federal funds, but their use for construction projects 

requires authorization by Congress. 

The Smithsonian Institution has entered into agreements with 

dozens of educational institutions worldwide, as strategic partners 

to advance important goals. These initiatives do not normally require legislative authorization. But this project links the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute closely to a specific educational 

institution—George Mason University—for a long term relationship 

which, for the first time, would allow an outside entity to construct 

a facility on Smithsonian property. The Committee believes that it 

is important for Congress to evaluate the propriety of this arrangement—and others, as appropriate, in the future—and, in this particular case, indicate its approval through legislation. 

Relationships of the kind contemplated by this legislation between GMU and the Smithsonian, depending on their number and 

effect, can have a significant impact on the operation and management of Smithsonian programs over time. The Committee will exercise its oversight to ensure that the objectives and costs of such arrangements maintain a balance among budgetary constraints and 

the Smithsonian’s research and educational goals. 

The Committee finds that the agreement between the Smithsonian and GMU is an appropriate vehicle for the Smithsonian to accomplish its overall mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The fact that the Smithsonian will gain ultimate ownership 

of the $20 million residential and dining facilities to be constructed 

by GMU, at no cost either to the Federal Treasury or the SmithsoVerDate Mar 15 2010 12:02 Sep 22, 2010 Jkt 058311 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR612P1.XXX HR612P1

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nian, makes the project a fiscal bargain and an attractive addition 

to the Institution’s resources. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

H.R. 5717 was introduced on July 13, 2010, by the three House 

members serving on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, Rep. Becerra of California (sponsor), along with Reps. Matsui of California 

and Sam Johnson of Texas, and Rep. Wolf of Virginia in whose district the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is located. The 

bill was referred to the Committee on House Administration as the 

primary committee, with an additional referral to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure. 

The Committee on House Administration held a markup on H.R. 

5717 on July 14, 2010. The Committee ordered the bill reported favorably to the House, by voice vote, without amendment. No 

amendments were offered during consideration of the legislation. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides a short title for H.R. 5717, the ‘‘Smithsonian 

Conservation Biology Institute Enhancement Act.’’ 

Section 2 authorizes $1 million in each of fiscal years 2010 and 

2011, and $3 million for succeeding fiscal years, to plan, design and 

construct a facility on National Zoological Park property in Front 

Royal, Virginia, to conduct research and educational programs. 

Section 3 authorizes the Smithsonian Board of Regents to enter 

into agreements for the provision of housing and other services for 

participants in research and educational programs authorized in 

the legislation. 

Section 4 authorizes the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design 

and construct animal holding and related facilities to be funded 

from non-Federal sources. 

MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

Constitutional authority 

Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report on a 

public bill or joint resolution to include a statement citing the specific constitutional power(s) granted to the Congress on which the 

Committee relies for enactment of the measure under consideration. The Committee cites the legislative power broadly granted to 

Congress under Article I. 

Committee votes 

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the results of each recorded vote 

on an amendment or motion to report, together with the names of 

those voting for and against, to be printed in the committee report. 

No recorded votes were taken during the Committee’s consideration 

of H.R. 5717. 

Congressional Budget Office estimate 

Clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII requires the report of a committee on 

a measure which has been approved by the committee to include 

a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional 

Budget Office pursuant to section 403 of the CBA, if timely submitted. The Director submitted the following estimate: 


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U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, August 26, 2010. 

Hon. ROBERT A. BRADY, 

Chairman, Committee on House Administration, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5717, the Smithsonian 

Conservation Biology Institute Enhancement Act. 

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 Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director). 

H.R. 5717—Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Enhancement Act 

Summary: H.R. 5717 would authorize appropriations of $5 million for the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct 

a research and education facility on the Front Royal, Virginia, 

property of the National Zoological Park. 

Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. 

H.R. 5717 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 5717 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 500 (education, employment, and social services). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011– 

2015 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Estimated Authorization Level .......................................................................... 2 3 0 0 0 5 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................................................ 1 1 1 1 1 5 

Basis of estimate: H.R. 5717 would authorize appropriations of 

$5 million to pay for a portion of the costs of the planning, designing, and construction of a research and educational facility at the 

National Zoo’s property in Front Royal, Virginia. For purposes of 

this estimate, CBO assumes that $1 million in funding authorized 

for fiscal year 2010 will be provided in fiscal year 2011, along with 

the amount authorized for that year. Any additional costs for that 

facility, as well as the costs related to an animal holding facility 

(also located on that property) would be paid from private donations to the Smithsonian Institution. 

In addition, the bill would authorize the Smithsonian Institution 

to enter into a ground lease for the provision of housing and other 

services at the facility. Costs of that project would be borne by the 

leaseholder and by the students and scholars using the facility, 

rather than the Smithsonian Institution. Although the Smithsonian 


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Institution receives considerable federal support, it is a federally 

chartered nonprofit organization that also draws on significant private donations for its operations. For those reasons, CBO estimates 

that the special leasing arrangement would not result in the purchase of the facility by the federal government, and, therefore, 

would not provide direct spending authority. 

Pay-as-you-go considerations: None. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 5717 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 

governments. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Christina Hawley Anthony; 

Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Elizabeth Cove 

Delisle; Impact on the Private Sector: Paige Piper/Bach. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

Federal mandates 

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution that includes a 

Federal mandate to include specific information about such mandates. H.R. 5717 contains no Federal mandates. 

Preemption clarification 

Section 423 of the CBA requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution to include a committee statement on the 

extent to which the measure is intended to preempt state or local 

law. The Committee states that H.R. 5717 is not intended to preempt any state or local law. 

Oversight findings 

Clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report to contain oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to 

clause 2(b)(1) of rule X. The oversight findings are addressed in the 

descriptive sections of the report. 

Statement of general performance goals and objectives 

Clause 3(c)(4) of House Rule XIII requires committee reports to 

include a statement of general performance goals and objectives. 

The Committee finds that the projects authorized by this legislation, and the agreement between the Smithsonian Institution and 

George Mason University, further the Smithsonian’s mission for 

the increase and diffusion of knowledge. 

Congressional ‘‘earmarks’’ 

Clause 9 of House Rule XXI requires committee reports on public 

bills and resolutions to contain an identification of congressional 

‘‘earmarks,’’ limited tax benefits, limited tariff benefits, and the 

names of requesting Members. The bill contains no such items. 

Congressional Accountability Act applicability 

Section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 

(Pub. L. 104–1) (CAA) requires each report on a public bill or joint 

resolution relating to terms and conditions of employment or access 

to public services or accommodations to describe the manner in 


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which the legislation applies to the Legislative Branch. H.R. 5717 

does not apply to the legislative branch and contains no such items. 

Changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported 

H.R. 5717 would not make any changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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