Senator Challenges Smithsonian to Raise $30-Million

In a contentious meeting between the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and Smithsonian officials Wednesday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, demanded that the institution raise money from private sources, reports The Washington Post.

Senator Feinstein, who chairs the committee, created a plan called the Legacy Fund to direct an additional $15-million in federal money to the institution on the condition that it raise $30-million in private money for maintenance and renovations. The plan received the support of the Senate and House Appropriations subcommittees on the interior and other agencies.

The plan was met with reluctance by Smithsonian officials at the hearing. Robert Kogod, chairman of the board’s facilities committee, said he preferred a one-to-one match for the money raised.

Of the Legacy Fund, Cristián Samper, the acting secretary of the Smithsonian, replied, “We are very grateful.”

To which Ms. Feinstein testily replied, “No, not ‘grateful.’ I hope it would be ‘very supportive.’ “

The Legacy Fund is included in the Interior appropriations bill for the 2008 fiscal year. Ms. Feinstein said she is optimistic that it will be passed by both houses of Congress.

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