Campus Notebook: Smithsonian Troubles
Roll Call Staff
Related Content
House Administration Chairman Robert Brady (D-Pa.) announced Tuesday that he will hold a hearing on reports that the Smithsonian Institution didn’t address asbestos exposure in a museum despite knowing about it for 16 years.
The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. April 1 in Room 1310 of the Longworth House Office Building, and Smithsonian officials will testify. The committee will “consider whether additional legislative requirements are necessary,” according to a press release.
Officials learned of the asbestos issue when a museum worker complained that the Smithsonian exposed workers to asbestos from construction at the National Air and Space Museum. A Washington Post article first reported the case of Richard Pullman, a 53-year-old exhibits specialist who has asbestosis and filed a whistle-blower complaint against the institution.
“I am extremely concerned over allegations that the health and safety of Smithsonian visitors and workers have been compromised by a lack of communication and inadequate protection,” Brady said. “At a minimum, museum officials should be prepared to discuss what measures have been taken thus far and how they plan to address the concerns that have been outlined.”
Submit your Campus Notebook tips here.
Taylor: Preventing Another Underwear Bomber
March 19, 4:09 p.m.
The intelligence community faces challenges daily. No example is more emblematic of the problems faced than the so-called underwear bomber of 2009. As threats emerge, the hunt for “persons of interest” must occur in a more reliable and efficient manner because the consequences of inaction can be catastrophic. Read Full Article
Roll Call Video Channels
