[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 124 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1538-E1539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM COMMISSION ACT OF 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2012

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the National 
Women's History Museum Commission Act of 2012. I am proud to be joined 
in this effort by my friend and colleague Delegate Eleanor Holmes 
Norton, as well as by Senator Susan Collins.
  This bipartisan bill, which has also been introduced by Senator 
Collins, creates a new commission to examine the feasibility and cost 
of building a National Women's History Museum, NWHM, on or near the 
National Mall.
  This commission will be a bipartisan, eight member body comprised of 
two members appointed by the Senate Majority Leader, two members 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two members 
appointed by the Minority Speaker of the Senate, and two members will 
be appointed by the House of Representatives Minority Leader. All 
appointees will need to demonstrate a commitment to the research and 
study of women's history.

[[Page E1539]]

  Most importantly, no federal dollars will be spent on this important, 
new museum. The work of the NWHM Commission would be paid for entirely 
with private funds.
  Women's history has taken a backseat to the hundreds of years of 
written and available narrative focusing on men. Women are largely 
missing from textbooks, memorials, and museum exhibits. Of the 210 
statues in the United States Capitol, only 9 are of female leaders. 
Across the country, less than 5 percent of the 2,400 national historic 
landmarks chronicle women's achievements.
  The museums and memorials in our nation's capital reveal what we as 
Americans value. Today, we have museums dedicated to many important 
people and issues of interest, including flight, postage stamps, and 
law enforcement. But we still do not have a museum dedicated to woman's 
history and their contribution to building our great country.
  A vital part of achieving equal rights for women is acknowledging and 
commemorating the deep and lasting impacts women have made in history. 
This bill would provide us with a blueprint of steps to take in order 
to finally honor 53% of our population. Certainly, women should be 
honored for their many contributions that are the very fabric of our 
country.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in filling this void and honoring our 
Nation's foremothers by cosponsoring the National Women's History 
Museum Commission Act.

                          ____________________