119 HR 1329 RH: Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-04-23 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IBUnion Calendar No. 538119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 1329[Report No. 119–621, Part I]IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 13, 2025Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Ms. Chu, Ms. De La Cruz, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. LaLota, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Fry, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Gimenez, Ms. Salinas, Mr. Lawler, Ms. Scholten, Mr. Issa, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Stauber, Ms. Sánchez, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Bacon, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Moolenaar, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Espaillat, Mrs. Radewagen, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr. Barr, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. García of Illinois, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Bynum, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Van Orden, Mr. Lieu, Ms. Jacobs, Mrs. Sykes, Mr. Rulli, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Ms. McClellan, Mr. Langworthy, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Tenney, Ms. Pingree, Mr. James, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Vargas, Mr. Carey, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Schweikert, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Owens, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Mast, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Rouzer, Ms. Meng, Mr. Correa, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Bentz, Mrs. McBath, Ms. DeGette, Ms. Tokuda, and Ms. Rivas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedApril 23, 2026Additional sponsors: Mr. Amo, Mr. Sorensen, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Stansbury, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Moore of North Carolina, Mr. Latimer, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Shreve, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ezell, Mr. Baird, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Alford, Mr. Ryan, Mr. Carbajal, Ms. King-Hinds, Mr. Tran, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Kean, Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Nunn of Iowa, Mr. Gottheimer, Ms. Greene of Georgia, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, Ms. Lee of Florida, Mr. Cuellar, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Vindman, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Jack, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Valadao, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mrs. Trahan, Ms. Budzinski, Mr. Moore of Utah, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Adams, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Smucker, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. Downing, Mr. Flood, Mrs. McClain, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Peters, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Ms. Maloy, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. Burchett, Mr. McCaul, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. McGuire, Ms. Scanlon, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Pou, Ms. Balint, Ms. Titus, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Bera, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Baumgartner, Mr. Begich, Ms. Friedman, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Carson, Mr. Ogles, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Strickland, Ms. McBride, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Crow, Ms. Gillen, Mr. Landsman, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Van Epps, Ms. Randall, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Barrett, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Ivey, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Ross, Mr. Thanedar, Mrs. Fletcher, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Pocan, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Takano, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Bresnahan, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Bean of Florida, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Bost, Ms. McDonald Rivet, Mr. LaHood, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Case, Mr. Soto, Mr. Crawford, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mrs. Luna, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Simon, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mrs. Grijalva, Mr. Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Min, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Casten, Mr. Wied, Mr. McCormick, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Ms. Morrison, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Kennedy of Utah, Mr. Mannion, and Mr. LoudermilkApril 23, 2026Deleted sponsor: Ms. Greene of Georgia (added April 2, 2025; deleted June 26, 2025)April 23, 2026Reported from the Committee on House Administration with an amendmentStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicApril 23, 2026Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printedFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 13, 2025A BILLTo permit the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act.

2.

Site of Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

(a)

Authorizing site within Reserve of National Mall

Section 107(d) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(d)) is amended by striking , except that and all that follows and inserting a period.(b)

Site designation

Section 107(a) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(a)) is amended to read as follows:(a)

In general

The site for the Museum is hereby designated as the South Monument site, located on the National Mall, bordered by 14th Street Southwest, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Raoul Wallenberg Place Southwest, and Independence Avenue Southwest, except that the President may designate an alternative site for the Museum within 180 days of the date of the enactment of this subsection..(c)

Use of site

(1)

Transfer

Section 107(b) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(b)) is amended to read as follows:(b)

Transfer of site

As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the head of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over the land described in subsection (a)..(2)

Building requirements

Section 107(c) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(c)) is amended to read as follows:(c)

Building

(1)

In general

The Board of Regents, in consultation with the head of the Federal agency or entity and the council established under section 104 and with the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the head of the Federal agency or entity, may plan, design, and construct a building for the Museum, which shall be located at the site described in subsection (a).(2)

Criteria

In considering site and design proposals, the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the head of the Federal agency or entity shall be guided by, but not limited to the following criteria:(A)The Museum shall be located so that to the maximum extent practicable, it protects the open space, existing public use, and cultural and natural resources.(B)The Museum shall be constructed of durable material suitable to the outdoor environment.(C)Landscape features of the Museum shall be compatible with the climate.(D)The National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts may develop such criteria or guidelines specific to each site that are mutually agreed upon to ensure that the design of the Museum carries out the purposes of this section. .(3)

Expenses

Section 107 of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f)

Expenses

The Smithsonian Institution shall reimburse within 60 days any and all costs incurred by the head of the Federal agency or entity for implementation of any recommendations resulting from the approval process described in subsection (c)..(d)

Museum purpose

Section 103 of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-1) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c)

Scope of Mission

(1)

In general

The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.(2)

Prohibition

The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female..(e)

Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences

Section 104(b)(4) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-2(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:(4)

Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences

(A)

In general

The Council shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the Museum reflect, to the extent practicable, an equal representation of the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States, accurately and comprehensively representing the varied cultures, histories, events, and values held by such women.(B)

Specific requirements

In carrying out its duties, the Council shall ensure that it seeks and utilizes to its maximum ability guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States, and shall seek such guidance for both the creation and substantial revision of exhibits and programs.(C)

Definitions

In this paragraph—(i)the term broad array means a range of experts and publications that represent the broad spectrum of communities of women, to include varied viewpoints, political ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences in the United States; and(ii)the term knowledgeable and respected source means an individual who has gained through education, publication, or witnessing an important or historical event, the ability to advise on at least one unique viewpoint or experience of a particular community of women in the United States, and whose knowledge has been relied upon by a notable segment of that community for education, heritage preservation, or historical purposes, and includes the work of such an individual which reflects such ability and knowledge..(f)

Reports to Congress

Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Smithsonian shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report on actions taken by the Director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the Council of the Museum to comply with the requirements of the amendments made by subsection (f), including a description of actions taken with respect to substantial revisions of current exhibits and programs as well the planning of future exhibits and programs.(g)

Effective date

This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of title I of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t et seq.).

April 23, 2026Reported from the Committee on House Administration with an amendmentApril 23, 2026Committee on Natural Resources discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed