LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 45

fire-protection systems in the Capitol and new House and Senate child care congressional office buildings; removal facilities; construction of a new Senate of architectural barriers throughout the Page school; renovation, restoration, and Capitol complex; publication of a new modification of the interiors and history of the Capitol, the first such work exteriors of the Thomas Jefferson and in almost a century; publication of a John Adams Buildings of the Library of new book on the artist Constantino Congress and provision of off-site book Brumidi, whose paintings decorate much of the Capitol; installation of an storage facilities for the Library; improved Senate subway system; management oversight of the Thurgood preparation of a telecommunications Marshall Federal Judiciary Building; and plan for the legislative branch agencies; design and construction of the National work on security improvements within Garden adjacent to the U.S. Botanic the Capitol complex; construction of Garden Conservatory.

For further information, contact the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, DC 20515. Phone, 202–228–1793. Internet, www.aoc.gov.

UNITED STATES BOTANIC GARDEN Office of Executive Director, 245 First Street SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–226–8333. Internet, www.usbg.gov. Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20024 Phone, 202–225–8333 Production Facility, 4700 Shepherd Parkway SW., Washington, DC 20032 Phone, 202–563–2220

Director (Architect of the Capitol) ALAN M. HANTMAN, Acting Executive Director HOLLY H. SHIMIZU

The United States Botanic Garden informs visitors about the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic, and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humankind.

The U.S. Botanic Garden has artistic succulents, medicinal plants, rare and displays of plants, exhibits, and endangered plants, and plants valued as educational programs promoting sources of food, beverages, fibers, botanical knowledge through the cosmetics, and industrial products. cultivation of an ordered collection of The U.S. Botanic Garden’s facilities plants; fostering plant conservation by include the Conservatory, Bartholdi Park, acting as a repository for endangered an administration building, and an off- species; and growing plants for the site Production facility. The Garden is beautification of the Capitol complex. currently undergoing a significant Uniquely situated at the heart of the U.S. expansion and transformation. The Government, the Garden seeks to Conservatory, one of the largest promote the exchange of ideas and structures of its kind in this country, re- information relevant to its mission opened on December 11, 2001, after among national and international visitors undergoing major renovation that and policymakers. required more than 4 years to complete. The Garden’s collections include In addition to upgraded amenities for orchids, epiphytes, bromeliads, visitors, it features 12 new exhibit and carnivorous plants, ferns, cycads, cacti, plant display areas. Renovation of the

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administration building and Bartholdi from the South Seas by the U.S. Park are scheduled for 2005–2006. A Exploring Expedition of 1838–42, under new public feature, the National Garden, the leadership of Capt. Charles Wilkes. is planned for the three-acre site just The collections were temporarily placed west of the Conservatory. on exhibit at the Patent Office upon Outdoor plantings are showcased in return of the expedition in June 1842. Bartholdi Park, a home landscape Thus, the first greenhouse for this demonstration area located across from purpose was constructed in 1842 on a the Conservatory. Each of the displays is lot behind the Patent Office Building sized and scaled for suitability in an under the direction and control of the urban or suburban setting. The gardens Joint Committee of Congress on the display ornamental plants that perform Library, from funds appropriated by well in this region arrayed in a variety of Congress. styles and themes. Also located in this The act of May 15, 1850 (9 Stat. 427), park is Bartholdi Fountain, created by provided for the relocation of the Fre´de´ric Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904), Botanic Garden under the direction of sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. the Joint Committee on the Library. The The Garden’s staff is organized into site selected was on The Mall at the west horticulture, operations, administration, end of the Capitol Grounds, practically and public programs divisions. Programs the same site the Garden occupied for the public are listed in a quarterly during the period it functioned under the calendar of events and also on the Columbia Institute. This site was later Garden’s Web site. A horticultural enlarged, and the main area continued hotline is available to answer questions to serve as the principal Garden site from the public. The U.S. Botanic Garden was founded from 1850 to 1933, when the Garden in 1820 under the auspices of the was relocated to its present site. Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Although the U.S. Botanic Garden Arts and Sciences, an organization that began functioning as a Government- was the outgrowth of an association owned institution in 1842, the records known as the Metropolitan Society, indicate that it was not until 1856 that which received its charter from Congress the maintenance of the Garden was on April 20, 1818. The Garden specifically placed under the direction of continued under the direction of the the Joint Committee on the Library and Institute until 1837, when the Institute a regular, annual appropriation was ceased to exist as an active organization. provided by Congress (11 Stat. 104). The U.S. Botanic Garden remained Presently, the Joint Committee on the abandoned until 1842, when it became Library exercises its supervision through necessary for the Government to provide the Architect of the Capitol, who has accommodations for the botanical held the title of Acting Director since collections brought to Washington, DC, 1934.

For further information concerning the United States Botanic Garden, contact the Public Programs Division, 245 First Street SW., Washington, DC 20024. Phone, 202–225–8333. Plant Hotline, 202–226– 4785. Internet, www.usbg.gov. E-mail, [email protected].

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE 441 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20548 Phone, 202–512–3000. Internet, www.gao.gov.

Comptroller General of the United States DAVID M. WALKER

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