Bill Overview
Title: Smithsonian Modernization Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes that the Smithsonian Institution must be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act, and certain provisions relating to open meetings. (The Smithsonian's policy is to respond to certain requests for information consistent with these acts, even though in 1997, a federal appeals court ruled that the Smithsonian is not subject to the Privacy Act.) The bill also modifies the procedures for selecting members of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution by having the President select the members from a list of nominees submitted by Congress.
Sponsors: Rep. Sempolinski, Joseph [R-NY-23]
Target Audience
Population: People engaging with the Smithsonian Institution
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The Smithsonian Institution is a significant cultural and educational entity with museums and facilities visited by millions of people globally each year.
- Changes affecting governance and transparency can influence how funding and operational decisions are made at the Smithsonian Institution.
- The Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act impact how US governmental and quasi-governmental entities manage information access and privacy.
- The Smithsonian Institution is primarily located and operates in the United States, appealing to an American audience but also an international one due to tourism and scholarship.
- The impacts of this bill on governance and policy could influence the content, focus, and availability of Smithsonian resources and exhibits.
- Scholars, researchers, and the general public who engage with the Smithsonian for educational and informative purposes would be affected globally, although Americans would experience these impacts directly.
Reasoning
- We need to consider that not all visits to the Smithsonian represent unique individuals, as some visitors may account for multiple visits.
- The policy primarily impacts transparency and governance, potentially affecting scholars, researchers, and the informed public, including regular museum-goers.
- Implementing FOIA and Privacy Act compliance measures might initially strain resources, using part of the budget for legal and administrative adjustments.
- With a significant number of American citizens visiting annually, the policy's transparency improvements could enhance trust and engagement among the public.
- The impact on individual well-being will vary widely; those more engaged with the Smithsonian's resources will perceive greater benefits from increased transparency.
- People indirectly related, like educational institutions, media, and governance bodies, experience secondary effects, aiding public interest.
- The time frame of 20 years allows for long-term analysis of changes in governance impact on the Smithsonian's development and public interaction.
Simulated Interviews
Museum Curator (Washington, D.C., USA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased transparency from FOIA will make our operations more accountable, which is a positive change.
- There might be some initial chaos adjusting to new open meeting requirements, but in the long term, it will build trust with the public.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Technology Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having more transparency is great, it aligns with the values we pursue in tech.
- Changes in the Board of Regents could lead to more innovative displays or exhibits, which is exciting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Graduate Student in American History (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to previously unavailable data through FOIA is going to really help my research.
- I'm hopeful that more defined regent selection processes could promote academic interests in exhibit choices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
High School Teacher (Houston, TX, USA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This legislation is a win for educators like myself who rely on factual information and transparency.
- Knowing that decision-making may align more with educational priorities is very reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Government Employee (New York, NY, USA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm used to dealing with policies and governance, and anything promoting transparency is welcome.
- These changes might really improve how the community views the Smithsonian overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Journalist (Chicago, IL, USA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a huge victory for journalists looking for accountability in major institutions.
- I think in-depth investigations might become easier with this access to information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Artist (Phoenix, AZ, USA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could open new opportunities for artists like me with the changes in Board selections.
- It's about time we had more openness in an institution that has such influence over art.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
College Student (Miami, FL, USA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater transparency is critical for academics like myself who require accurate information.
- These changes encourage political interest and responsibility in cultural institutions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired Academic (Boulder, CO, USA)
Age: 65 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This modernization is long overdue, especially for research scholars like myself.
- Having these governance and transparency changes will improve the quality of information available.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Public Lawyer (Baltimore, MD, USA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- FOIA and Privacy Act compliance will make the Smithsonian more accessible to legal scrutiny, which helps in advising clients.
- Easier access to information will be beneficial for the legal community and the public.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $13000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $18000000)
Year 3: $11000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $14000000)
Year 10: $9000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $7000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- The Smithsonian Institution is a major educational and cultural entity, implying that changes to its governance and operations can have broad educational and public impact.
- Compliance with FOIA and the Privacy Act will demand ongoing administrative support and procedural changes.
- Revised procedures for regent selection could stabilize governance dynamics, possibly enhancing institutional effectiveness.