Word on the Hill: Smithsonian Update

By Alex Gangitano

Posted March 28, 2017 at 5:00am

The free museums that line the National Mall are part of the budget conversation on Capitol Hill, too.

Federal funding covers about 70 cents of every dollar the Smithsonian Institution needs to run, according to the museum group’s website. As part of the federal establishment, the Smithsonian needs to check in with Congress every now and then.

David Skorton, who heads the Smithsonian Institution, is coming to the Capitol on Tuesday to testify on the museum group’s priorities at a House Administration Committee hearing at 11:30 a.m. in 1310 Longworth. Watch for HOH’s coverage.

Staffer guide talk

HOH released its Staffer Guide in January, and congressional staffers can learn more about it and share their insights Tuesday evening. HOH reporter Alex Gangitano will be joined by Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., for “Roll Call’s Staffer Guide Discussion,” an event hosted by the Women’s Congressional Staff Association. It’s free and open to the public. 7 p.m. in the House Visitor’s Center Room 215. RSVP here.

Gymnasts in the Capitol

Former members of the U.S. Gymnastics team are on Capitol Hill today to push for legislation that would “require amateur athletics governing bodies to immediately report sex-abuse allegations to law enforcement,” according to a press release.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, are hosting a press conference with the athletes at 11:30 a.m. in the Senate, Room 120. The former gymnasts include Mattie Larson, Jessica Howard and Dominique Moceanu. Watch out for HOH’s coverage.

Final Four

The NCAA’s men’s basketball Final Four is on Saturday. Check out which teams made it to the semifinal round and which member of Congress represents that college or university. Let us know who you’re rooting for by tweeting at us via #RCncaa17 .

Staffer shuffle

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace announced new senior fellows: Denis McDonough, former chief of staff to President Barack Obama, and Jake Sullivan, former national security adviser to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Connie Partoyan is the new president of GOP digital firm Targeted Victory. She was most recently the CEO of Direct Impact, a Republican grass-roots firm and previously served as chief of staff to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash.