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HR 1785 112th Congress House Government Operations and Politics Congressional oversight Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers Smithsonian Institution User charges and fees

To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any…

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To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 5, 2011 Introduced by: Norton, Eleanor Holmes Democratic · District of Columbia See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 5, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
May 5, 2011
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E813, E818, E831)
May 5, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prohibits the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to an exhibit that is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility that is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Gallery of Art.

Allows the charging of a fee for admission to an exhibit if: (1) charging a fee is necessary and unavoidable, (2) the Secretary submits a statement explaining the determination to Congress, and (3) the charging of such fee does not become effective until after the expiration of a 45-day period beginning on the date the statement is submitted.

Makes such prohibition non-applicable to a specified exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History. Requires the Secretary to submit a plan for eliminating the admission fee for such exhibition which shall include steps to cover the expenses incurred in carrying out the exhibition.

What's happening now May 5, 2011

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1785: To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1785/
MLA
"H.R. 1785: To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1785/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1785, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1785/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1785: To prohibit the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from charging a fee for admission to any exhibit which is part of the permanent collection of any museum or facility which is part of any bureau established in or under the Smithsonian Institution, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1785/)
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