Matsui Testifies before Senate Rules and Administration Committee in Her Capacity as a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) appeared today before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to offer testimony in her role as one of three Congressional Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Rep. Matsui began the proceedings by speaking to the steps the Smithsonian has taken to strengthen its governance practices in recent days. The Congresswoman also used the opportunity to highlight her oversight work as the only Congressional member of the Smithsonian’s Governance Committee.“The purpose of our Committee was to review the Smithsonian Institution’s governance model, compare it to best practices of similar institutions, and provide recommendations based on the shortcomings we discovered. The Governance Committee utilized every available resource, both from within and outside the Institution, in order to accomplish this difficult assignment,” said Matsui. “We were tasked with highlighting areas where the Smithsonian must improve, and I believe that we did so in a rigorous and focused way.”As the only Member of Congress serving on the Smithsonian’s Governance Committee, Rep. Matsui is responsible for ensuring that the Institution safeguards taxpayers’ investment by adhering to strict and transparent management policies. Revelations about shortcomings at the Smithsonian were made prior to Rep. Matsui’s appointment as a Regent, and these findings were recently confirmed by a report from an Independent Review Committee that was appointed by the Board of Regents and chaired by Chuck Bowsher, who is the former Comptroller General of the United States. This report uncovered excessive compensation for the Smithsonian’s senior management, and brought to light numerous other flawed policies which the Congresswoman and her Governance Committee colleagues have been working to reform over the past three months.Many of the recommendations generated by the Governance Committee have already been adopted by the Smithsonian. “When the Board adopted the Governance Committee’s recommendations, by definition it ratified guiding principles that will strengthen the Smithsonian for the future,” continued Matsui. “The Institution will operate as a public trust, follow only the highest ethical standards, and it will conduct its business with an increased ethos of transparency.”As one of three Members of Congress serving on the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, and as the only Member on its Governance Committee, Congresswoman Matsui is responsible for overseeing the Smithsonian’s management and operating policies. She was appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to fill this position in January.For a copy of Congresswoman Matsui’s testimony as submitted to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, please click here.###
