Special exhibits are being prepared for the U. S. Botanic Garden's 175th Classes are held throughout the year and include timely subjects relative Tours are given to interested groups including garden clubs, professional The USBG serves as a center for plant information offering a telephone Handouts are provided on plant culture, sources for plants and Cooperation with local and national garden clubs and scientific In the administration building, a horticultural and botanical library is The National Garden, authorized by Congress in 1989, will become an additional component of the USBG and is now in planning, with almost $500,000 in private funds having been donated to the AOC for planning and design. Over $4 million in private funds have been donated for this facility, to be constructed adjacent to the Conservatory as a commemoration of the bicentennial of the U. S. Congress. The National Garden of the USBG is also to be the recipient of an estimated $5 million from the proceeds of a commemorative coin to be minted. Planning for the National Garden and the renovation of the Conservatory has been coordinated. Key components of the National Garden include a rose garden, a water garden dedicated to First Ladies of the United States, and an education center. As the foregoing description suggests, only a small portion of the USBG resources are devoted to serving the direct needs of the Congress as distinguished from providing a broader public service. B. Preconditions to Options for the Future of the USBG The question posed "Why do we need a botanic garden" is interpreted to mean "why does the Congress as an institution need a botanic garden?" Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once observed that on certain matters "a page of history is worth a volume of logic." For almost 175 years the Congress has in one form or another directly sponsored or underwritten the institution, which has become part of the national patrimony in the same way as has the Library of Congress ("the LOC"). Were the LOC not in existence today the question of creating it anew as an adjunct of the Congress would no doubt inspire a debate, the outcome of which might not be certain. The Library, of course, exists as an adjunct to the Congress and has become a source of pride to the Congress and the nation if not the world. The USBG is not unique in the sense that the LOC is, but it has a history and role that is singular among its counterparts. The connection between the Congress and the institution could be honored and continued on historical grounds alone. Assuming nevertheless that history, however weighty, may not in itself be dispositive, the question legitimately asks for the rationale for continuance of the institution as a component of the Legislative Branch of government as distinguished from some other agency of the federal government or private auspices. It should be noted that the transfer to other auspices would not in and of itself reduce the cost of operating the institution. Certain costs could be reduced if services provided to Congress were eliminated, such as providing decorative plants for the Senate and public rooms of the Capitol, but these costs are relatively small in the overall operations of the institution. The institution is essentially an educational and scientific organization with ancillary services to the Congress and the grounds of Capitol Hill. In this regard it is similar to the functions of the LOC. As a fresh question it would be possible to conceive of the USBG operating under the auspices of another federal agency or under private auspices. These options would be subject to two primary preconditions however: The first precondition would require a determination as to whether the Congress would desire another agency or entity to have a presence within the Capitol Complex. While the USBG is technically not on U. S. Capitol Grounds, it is physically so identified with Capitol Grounds that it is generally perceived to be a part thereof. The U. S. Capitol Police provide security, and sponsored Congressional receptions strengthen this perception. If a transfer were effected to another agency or entity issues of security and responsibility for maintenance of the grounds would arise, among others. The access now given to USBG employees to rooms in the Capitol might not be continued for employees of other entities, or certain services now provided to the Congress might terminate. It would appear desirable for the Congress in any event to retain title to the Architecture Substantial age-related failures in the glass and glazing systems have occurred. The amount of single strength glass that is failing has been growing annually, based on slippage in the framing and failure in the sealants holding the glass in place. The individual panes of glass do not comply with current code requirements to use laminated glass overhead to prevent shattered glass from falling to the ground. Without the proposed renovation, moisture infiltration will increase, with negative effects on the structure and visitor comfort. Walkway surfaces are cracked, both inside and out, creating tripping hazards, and will likely undergo further deterioration from vehicles used to move exhibits and arrangements for social events. There are insufficient means of egress from the Conservatory given occupancy loads, thereby creating life safety deficiencies. In general, the building has insufficient space for storage areas, hazardous material containment, and office and administrative functions. The service area of the building is not adequate for staff or public safety. Congressional functions requiring catering and food handling were not anticipated in the original design. Building maintenance access does not meet OSHA standards. Mechanical The existing system is well beyond its projected useful life, and is inefficient and not fully capable of meeting the humidity and temperature requirements for plant specimens. Existing controls are largely manually maintained, a labor intensive and ineffective process, and one that does not well support the plants. Ventilation now does not allow for ambient air and mechanical systems to discretely maintain the temperature and humidity levels specifically required for each house. A system-wide heating failure could put the entire collection at risk. Plumbing The plumbing systems have outlived their useful life and have corroded to a point where replacement is essential. The lines are undersized for required new restrooms, are leaking and have had their effective drainage diameter significantly reduced. Undersized restrooms, which do not meet current code requirements, are clearly inadequate for the increasing numbers of the visiting public and those attending Congressional receptions. The subsurface drainage system has failed. Electrical The electrical distribution system is undersized; there are no ground interrupters in a moist environment, creating a potential hazard during daily operations. The electrical code has been updated 23 times since the building opened. Lighting in the Conservatory does not now properly illuminate the exhibited plants nor the walkway flow of the visiting public and is not energy efficient. Emergency egress lighting does not exist, nor does emergency back-up lighting. Fire alarm systems are not current, nor up to code; no fire suppression system exists. Summary In summary, this unique and historic building has been subjected to the accelerated wear that affects any public building that is heavily frequented. In general, it is at a minimum not capable of meeting current recognized building codes, or professional standards for institutions of its nature, will increasingly constitute a potential hazard for visitors and workers, and is at points nearing material failure and danger of possible collapse. A renovation program, calling for the annual investment of $7 million for each of four fiscal years has been designed to correct these deficiencies and position the facility for effective operations for future generations. Another important consideration concerns the relationship of the Conservatory renovation project and the National Garden project. Funds have been raised for the latter from private donors in reliance on the renovation of the Conservatory; the two projects have been coordinated physically and programmatically. The Conservatory's renovated West Display Hall is to become the main entrance to the National Garden. Additional funds are being sought for the National Garden, which are also premised on the timely completion of the Conservatory renovation. D. Transfer to Another Agency A transfer to another agency of government would reduce the budget of the Legislative Branch but, as previously noted, would not inevitably reduce costs to the government generally. This office cannot, of course, be sufficiently familiar with the operations of other agencies to determine which would constitute the most appropriate transferee should a decision in principle be made that such a transfer were desirable. There are, however, three possibilities that suggest themselves: the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. Of these the Smithsonian would appear the most suitable because of its overall mission, the nature of the USBG, and its location. The Smithsonian Institution is an independent trust instrumentality of the United States that fosters the increase and diffusion of knowledge. It already has respected horticultural and botany departments. History, technology, science and the arts are represented in exhibits through the conduct of research, publication of studies and the like. The |