(a)
In General.—
Notwithstanding other provisions or limitations of law, the Secretary may
perform the functions described in this section in the manner that the Secretary
considers to be in the public interest.
(b)
Donations and Bequests.—
The Secretary may accept donations and bequests of money or other personal
property, and hold, use, expend, and administer the money or other personal property
for purposes of this chapter.
(c)
Purchases.—
The Secretary may purchase museum objects and other personal property at prices
that the Secretary considers to be reasonable.
(d)
Exchanges.—
The Secretary may make exchanges by accepting museum objects and other personal
property and by granting in exchange for the museum objects or other personal
property museum property under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary that
no longer is needed or that may be held in duplicate among the museum properties
administered by the Secretary. Exchanges shall be consummated on a basis that the
Secretary considers to be equitable and in the public interest.
(e)
Acceptance of Loans of Property.—
The Secretary may accept the loan of museum objects and other personal property
and pay transportation costs incidental to the museum objects or other personal
property. Loans shall be accepted on terms and conditions that the Secretary
considers necessary.
(f)
Loans of Property.—
The Secretary may loan to responsible public or private organizations,
institutions, or agencies, without cost to the United States, such museum objects
and other personal property as the Secretary shall consider advisable. Loans shall
be made on terms and conditions that the Secretary considers necessary to protect
the public interest in those properties.
(g)
Transfer of Museum Objects.—
The Secretary may transfer museum objects that the Secretary determines are no
longer needed for museum purposes to qualified Federal agencies, including the
Smithsonian Institution, that have programs to preserve and interpret cultural or
natural heritage, and accept the transfer of museum objects for the purposes of this
chapter from any other Federal agency, without reimbursement. The head of any other
Federal agency may transfer, without reimbursement, museum objects directly to the
administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purpose of this chapter.
(h)
Conveyance of Museum Objects.—
The Secretary may convey museum objects that the Secretary determines are no
longer needed for museum purposes, without monetary consideration but subject to
such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers necessary, to private
institutions exempt from Federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3))
and to non-Federal governmental entities if the Secretary determines that the
recipient is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of natural or cultural
heritage and is qualified to manage the property, prior to any conveyance under this
subsection and subsection (g).
(i)
Destruction of Museum Objects.—
The Secretary may destroy or cause to be destroyed museum objects that the
Secretary determines to have no scientific, cultural, historic, educational,
esthetic, or monetary value.
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