[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 117 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S9659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Boxer, 
        Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Dole, 
        Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. McCaskill, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, 
        and Mr. Voinovich):
  S. 1841. A bill to provide a site for the National Women's History 
Museum in Washington, District of Columbia, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the National Women's 
History Museum Act of 2007, a bill that would clear the way to locate a 
long-overdue historical and educational resource in our Nation's 
capital city.
  In each of the last two Congresses, the Senate has approved earlier 
versions of this bill by unanimous consent. I appreciate that past 
support, and I appreciate the cosponsorship today from 18 of my 
colleagues, Senators Akaka, Bennett, Boxer, Cantwell, Clinton, Coleman, 
Durbin, Dole, Klobuchar, Landrieu, Lincoln, McCaskill, Mikulski, 
Murkowski, Murray, Snowe, Stabenow, and Voinovich.
  Women constitute the majority of our population. They make invaluable 
contributions to our country, not only in traditional venues like the 
home, schools, churches, and volunteer organizations, but in 
Government, corporations, medicine, law, literature, sports, 
entertainment, the arts, and the military services. The need for a 
museum recognizing the contributions of American women is of long 
standing.
  A presidential commission on commemorating women in American history 
concluded that, ``Efforts to implement an appropriate celebration of 
women's history in the next millennium should include the designation 
of a focal point for women's history in our Nation's capital.''
  That report was issued in 1999. Nearly a decade later, although 
Congress has commendably made provisions for the National Museum for 
African American History and Culture, the National Law Enforcement 
Museum, and the National Building Museum, there is still no national 
institution in the capital region dedicated to women's role in our 
country's history.
  The proposed legislation calls for no new Federal program and no new 
claims on the budget. It would simply direct the General Services 
Administration to negotiate and enter into an occupancy agreement with 
the National Women's History Museum, Inc. to establish a museum in the 
long-vacant Pavilion Annex of the Old Post Office building in 
Washington, DC.
  The National Women's History Museum is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 
educational institution based in the District of Columbia. Its mission 
is to research and present the historic contributions that women have 
made to all aspects of human endeavor, and to present the contributions 
that women have made to the Nation in their various roles in family, 
the economy, and society.
  The Pavilion Annex to the Old Post Office was a commercial failure 
and remains a continuing drain on Federal maintenance budgets. Putting 
the building to use as a museum would provide lease payments and 
establish a new historical and educational destination site on 
Pennsylvania Avenue that would bring new visitor traffic and new 
economic activity to the neighborhood.
  These are sound reasons for supporting this bill. The best reason, 
however, is the obligation to demonstrate the gratitude and respect we 
owe to the many generations of American women who have helped build, 
sustain, and advance our society. They deserve a building to present 
their stories, as well as the stories of pioneering women like 
abolitionist Harriet Tubman, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, 
astronaut Sally Ride, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
  That women's roll of honor would also include a distinguished 
predecessor in my Senate seat, the late Senator Margaret Chase Smith, 
the first woman nominated for President of the United States by a major 
political party, and the first woman elected to both Houses of 
Congress. Senator Smith began representing Maine in the U.S. House of 
Representatives in 1940, won election to the Senate in 1948, and 
enjoyed bipartisan respect over her long career for her independence, 
integrity, wisdom, and decency. She remains my role model and, through 
the example of her public service, an exemplar of the virtues that 
would be honored in the National Women's History Museum.
  I thank my colleagues for their past support of this effort, and urge 
them to renew that support for this bill.
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