[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 154 (Monday, December 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



             National Women's History Museum Commission Act

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, last week the Senate passed the 
National Women's History Museum Commission Act, a bill that I authored 
with the dean of the Democratic women Senators, Senator Mikulski of 
Maryland. It passed finally as part of the National Defense 
Authorization Act.
  Our legislation will create a commission to evaluate and plan the 
establishment of a museum dedicated to women's history right here in 
our Nation's Capital. I know the Presiding Officer shares my view that 
this is long overdue.
  I am in fact pleased to have had all of the women Senators as 
cosponsors of this bill, and I am thankful for the support of many of 
our other colleagues as well. Senator Mikulski has been a terrific co-
leader, and I thank her for her leadership.
  A women's history museum is long overdue in Washington, DC. Think of 
it. We actually have a museum dedicated to honoring buildings. We have 
museums along the mall that commemorate various aspects of our history. 
We have the Air and Space Museum. There is a privately run Spy Museum. 
There is the Newseum, which honors journalism. There is a museum that 
honors Native Americans. Americans from all over this country can come 
to Washington and learn about our history and the contributions of the 
people who have made our Nation the greatest country in the world. 
Despite the plethora of museums, however, there has been no museum 
dedicated to the women who have helped to shape our Nation's history.
  The legislation that was finally approved last week calls for a 
commission to fund its own costs, and it would be paid for entirely 
with private funds at no cost to American taxpayers.
  This commission would put forth a plan for establishing a museum on 
women's history so that people who are coming to Washington can learn 
about the enormous contributions of women to our Nation's history.
  Indeed, American women have made invaluable contributions to our 
country across such diverse fields as government, business, medicine, 
law, literature, sports, entertainment, the arts, and the military. A 
museum dedicated to women's history will help ensure that future 
generations understand what it is we owe to the many American women who 
have helped to build, sustain, and advance our society.
  Such a museum will share the stories of pioneering women such as 
abolitionist Harriet Tubman, the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette 
Gordon Low, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, astronaut Sally 
Ride, and my personal inspiration, Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith.
  I first introduced legislation to establish a museum for women's 
history in 2003. Early the following year, the Senate unanimously 
approved my bill. Unfortunately, that legislation was not taken up by 
the House and died.
  In 2005, the Senate again approved the legislation, but it too 
stalled in the House. With the passage finally of this commission bill, 
the effort to establish a museum for women's history in our Nation's 
Capital takes a positive step forward.
  This bill will convene a talented, diverse, and skilled panel of 
historians, educators, museum administrators, and other experts with 
experience in women's history to make recommendations for the creation 
and the sustainment of such a museum.
  It is important to emphasize that this museum will portray all 
aspects of women's contributions to our history, without partisanship 
or bias. The only political statement we will be making is to correct 
the longstanding omission of the role of women in America's history.
  I also recognize and thank Chairwoman Landrieu and Ranking Member 
Murkowski for their careful consideration of our bill by the Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee, which unanimously approved it last month.
  Telling the history of the contributions of American women matters, 
and this bill takes a long overdue first step toward recognizing and 
honoring those who have shaped our shared American heritage. I look 
forward to the day when young girls and young boys visiting Washington 
will be able to visit a women's history museum to learn more about the 
remarkable contributions of American women to our Nation.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that I be permitted to speak as 
in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.