[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7058-7064]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF A NATIONAL WOMEN'S 
                           HISTORY MUSEUM ACT

  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 863) to establish the Commission to Study the Potential 
Creation of a National Women's History Museum, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 863

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the 
     Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
     Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National 
     Women's History Museum established by section 3(a).
       (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Women's 
     History Museum.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to 
     Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History 
     Museum.
       (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 
     members, of whom--
       (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
     the Senate;
       (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives;
       (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
     the Senate; and
       (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (c) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
     appointed to the Commission from among individuals, or 
     representatives of institutions or entities, who possess--
       (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or 
     promotion of women's history, art, political or economic 
     status, or culture; and
       (B)(i) expertise in museum administration;
       (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cultural 
     institutions;
       (iii) experience in the study and teaching of women's 
     history;
       (iv) experience in studying the issue of the representation 
     of women in art, life, history, and culture at the 
     Smithsonian Institution; or
       (v) extensive experience in public or elected service;
       (2) experience in the administration of, or the planning 
     for, the establishment of, museums; or
       (3) experience in the planning, design, or construction of 
     museum facilities.
       (d) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may 
     serve as a member of the Commission.
       (e) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members 
     of the Commission shall be appointed not later than the date 
     that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
       (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
       (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
     appointment was made.
       (g) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of 
     all of the members, select 1 member of the Commission to 
     serve as the Chairperson of the Commission.

     SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) Reports.--
       (1) Plan of action.--The Commission shall submit to the 
     President and Congress a report containing the 
     recommendations of the Commission with respect to a plan of 
     action for the establishment and maintenance of a National 
     Women's History Museum in Washington, DC.
       (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall submit to the 
     President and Congress a report that addresses the following 
     issues:
       (A) The availability and cost of collections to be acquired 
     and housed in the Museum.
       (B) The impact of the Museum on regional women history-
     related museums.
       (C) Potential locations for the Museum in Washington, DC, 
     and its environs.
       (D) Whether the Museum should be part of the Smithsonian 
     Institution.
       (E) The governance and organizational structure from which 
     the Museum should operate.
       (F) Best practices for engaging women in the development 
     and design of the Museum.
       (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining 
     the Museum.
       (3) Deadline.--The reports required under paragraphs (1) 
     and (2) shall be submitted not later than the date that is 18 
     months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission.
       (b) Fundraising Plan.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising 
     plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance 
     of the Museum through contributions from the public.
       (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan 
     under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider--
       (A) the role of the National Women's History Museum (a 
     nonprofit, educational organization described in section 
     501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that was 
     incorporated in 1996 in Washington, DC, and dedicated for the 
     purpose of establishing a women's history museum) in raising 
     funds for the construction of the Museum; and
       (B) issues relating to funding the operations and 
     maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without reliance on 
     appropriations of Federal funds.
       (3) Independent review.--The Commission shall obtain an 
     independent review of the viability of the plan developed 
     under paragraph (1) and such review shall include an analysis 
     as to whether the plan is likely to achieve the level of 
     resources necessary to fund the construction of the Museum 
     and the operations and maintenance of the Museum in 
     perpetuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 
     funds.
       (4) Submission.--The Commission shall submit the plan 
     developed under paragraph (1) and the review conducted under 
     paragraph (3) to the Committees on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure, House Administration, Natural Resources, and 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural 
     Resources, and Appropriations of the Senate.
       (c) Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based on the 
     recommendations contained in the report submitted under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), the Commission 
     shall submit for consideration to the Committees on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure, House Administration, 
     Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Rules and 
     Administration, Energy and Natural Resources, and 
     Appropriations of the Senate recommendations for a 
     legislative plan of action to establish and construct the 
     Museum.
       (d) National Conference.--Not later than 18 months after 
     the date on which the initial members of the Commission are 
     appointed under section 3, the Commission may, in carrying 
     out the duties of the Commission under this section, convene 
     a national conference relating to the Museum, to be comprised 
     of individuals committed to the advancement of the life, art, 
     history, and culture of women.

     SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Director and Staff.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission may employ and compensate 
     an executive director and any other additional personnel that 
     are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties 
     of the Commission.
       (2) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons employed under 
     paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the rates of pay 
     allowed for employees of a temporary organization under 
     section 3161 of title 5, United States Code.

[[Page 7059]]

       (b) Not Federal Employment.--Any individual employed under 
     this Act shall not be considered a Federal employee for the 
     purpose of any law governing Federal employment.
       (c) Technical Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request of 
     the Commission, the head of a Federal agency may provide 
     technical assistance to the Commission.
       (2) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be detailed to 
     the Commission.

     SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       (a) Compensation.--
       (1) In general.--A member of the Commission--
       (A) shall not be considered to be a Federal employee for 
     any purpose by reason of service on the Commission; and
       (B) shall serve without pay.
       (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be 
     allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates 
     consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of 
     chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
       (b) Gifts, Bequests, Devises.--The Commission may solicit, 
     accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of 
     money, services, or real or personal property for the purpose 
     of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission.
       (c) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Commission shall 
     not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.).

     SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

       The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days 
     after the date on which the final versions of the reports 
     required under section 4(a) are submitted.

     SEC. 8. FUNDING.

       (a) In General.--The Commission shall be solely responsible 
     for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the 
     expenses of, the Commission.
       (b) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to 
     carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn 
B. Maloney) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wyoming.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 863 establishes a commission to study the potential creation of 
a National Women's History Museum.
  The commission will prepare a report with key findings that include 
an evaluation of potential locations for the museum in Washington, 
D.C.; guidance on whether it should be part of the Smithsonian 
Institution; and cost estimates for constructing, operating, and 
maintaining the facility.
  In terms of fiscal responsibility, H.R. 863 requires an independent 
review of the report to analyze the ability of the museum to operate 
without taxpayer funding.
  With the information generated by the report, Congress will be able 
to evaluate the proposed museum. This legislation does not authorize 
the museum to be built or authorize spending of taxpayer dollars of any 
kind.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as 
much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the National Women's History Museum has a rightful 
place in our Nation's Capital, and it is very appropriate that we are 
considering this legislation the week of Mothers' Day.
  I believe we should all be able to agree that, when our children and 
their children visit our Nation's Capital, they should be inspired by 
the stories of the men and women who helped shape this country. Sadly, 
today, that is not the case.
  Women's contributions to our country are largely missing from our 
national museums, memorials, statues, and textbooks. The bill before us 
today seeks to finally change that.
  It would be the first National Women's History Museum in Washington 
and the first in the United States of America, and, I believe, the 
first in the entire world that would chronicle the important 
contributions of American women to America.
  H.R. 863 would create a bipartisan, eight-person commission to 
develop a plan and recommendations for a National Women's History 
Museum in our Nation's Capital.
  The commission, which would be funded entirely with private 
donations, would have 18 months to submit its recommendations to 
Congress and the President.
  Congress will then have to consider these recommendations, and a 
second bill would be needed to support the establishment of a women's 
museum, so the bill before us enables a commission to study this and 
for Congress, then, to react to their proposals.
  Now, I would like to stress that this has been a very strong, 
bipartisan effort. I am proud to have worked on this bill with 
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, who has been a wonderful partner and 
has done so much to get us where we are today. She has been 
outstanding.
  Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has been a great champion of this 
effort for years, along with Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis and many, 
many other Members from both parties whose support has been absolutely 
essential.
  I would like to thank Speaker Boehner, Democratic Leader Pelosi, 
Majority Leader Cantor, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer for their 
support as well.
  Thank you to the leadership and members of the House Administration 
and Natural Resources Committee for ushering this legislation through 
their committees with unanimous support, Congressmen Brady and Miller 
and Congressmen DeFazio and Hastings.
  We are all working on this together because we believe that ensuring 
our country's full story is told, not just half of it, is part of our 
patriotic responsibility that rises above party lines, and we are 
working hard to make sure that this is a bill that can be supported by 
Members of both parties.
  As I mentioned, no public funds would be used to support this 
commission, and the commission is required to consider a plan for the 
museum to be constructed and operated by private funds only. No 
taxpayer dollars will be involved.
  Most importantly, neither this bill nor the commission it would 
create would set the content of this museum. That part will come later, 
after Congress acts on the commission's recommendations and the museum 
is finally established.
  One could imagine a museum featuring original women thinkers ranging 
from Ayn Rand, who authored ``Atlas Shrugged,'' to Mary Whiton Calkins. 
Ms. Rand, I suspect you may know about her, but you may not have heard 
of Ms. Calkins.
  She was born in 1863 and studied at Harvard, under the influential 
American philosopher, William James, who believed her Ph.D. to be the 
most brilliant examination for a Ph.D. that he had ever seen; but Mary 
was not granted a degree because, at that time, Harvard had a policy 
against conferring degrees on women.
  Despite the setback, she went on to become a charter member of the 
American Philosophical Association and the first woman president of the 
American Psychological Association.

                              {time}  1430

  But most people have never heard of her or her accomplishments 
because when the story of America has been told, the story of many 
remarkable women has all too often been left out.
  Currently in the Nation's Capital and near The Mall or on The Mall, 
there is an Air and Space Museum, a Spy Museum, a Textile Museum, a 
National Postal Museum, even a Crime and Punishment Museum and a media 
museum. These are all wonderful, enriching institutions that are 
destinations for millions of visitors every year. But there is no 
museum in the country that shows the full scope of the history of the 
amazing, brilliant, courageous, innovative, and sometimes defiant

[[Page 7060]]

women who have helped to shape our history and make this country what 
it is.
  Even though women make up 50 percent of the population, a survey of 
18 history textbooks found that only 10 percent of the individuals 
identified in the texts were women; less than 5 percent of the 2,400 
National Historic Landmarks chronicle the achievements of women; and of 
the 210 statues in the United States Capitol, only nine are of female 
leaders.
  As an example, while nearly every high school student learns about 
the midnight ride of Paul Revere, how many of them learn about Sybil 
Ludington? She is the 16-year-old whose midnight ride to send word to 
her father's troops that the British were coming was longer than Paul 
Revere's, just as important, and, in many ways, was even more 
remarkable. But her ride has been long forgotten.
  On display in our Capitol Rotunda is a statue of three courageous 
women who fought so hard for women to gain the right to vote. And it is 
my hope that in 2020, on the 100th anniversary of women gaining the 
right to vote, that we will open the doors to this important museum.
  I urge the passage of this long overdue legislation, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann).
  Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank my wonderful colleague from the State of 
Wyoming.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to stipulate, first of all, that all 
Republican women are pro-women and that all Republican men that serve 
in this Congress are pro-women, as are the Democrat women and the 
Democrat men in this Congress.
  A ``no'' vote on the current legislation, which I advocate for, very 
simply, is a vote to stand up for the pro-life movement, a vote to 
stand up for traditional marriage, and a vote to stand up for the 
traditional family.
  There already are 20 women's museums in the United States, including 
one affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum and including one right next 
to the United States Capitol. So why would we be building another?
  I rise today in opposition to this bill because I believe, 
ultimately, this museum that would be built on The National Mall, on 
Federal land, will enshrine the radical feminist movement that stands 
against the pro-life movement, the pro-family movement, and the pro-
traditional marriage movement.
  The idea of celebrating women is admirable. It is shared by everyone 
in this Chamber. No one disputes that. And a few of the museum's 
proposed exhibits are worthy. No one disputes that.
  I, for one, am honored to be featured in an online exhibit about 
motherhood that highlights our 23 foster children and our five 
biological children.
  However, I am deeply concerned that any worthy exhibits are clearly 
the exception and not the rule. A cursory view of the overall content 
already listed on the Web site shows an overwhelming bias toward women 
who embrace liberal ideology, radical feminism, and it fails to paint 
an accurate picture of the lives and actions of American women 
throughout our history.
  The most troubling example is the museum's glowing review of the 
woman who embraced the eugenics movement in the United States, Margaret 
Sanger. She is an abortion trailblazer, and she is the founder of 
Planned Parenthood, which this body has sought to defund. Yet the 
museum glosses over Margaret Sanger's avid support for sterilization of 
women and abortion and for the elimination of chosen ethnic groups, 
particularly African Americans, and classes of people. I find Margaret 
Sanger's views highly offensive, yet she is featured over and over 
again as a woman to extoll on this Web site and, ultimately, in this 
museum. Adding in a conservative woman to balance out Sanger's 
inclusion does not alleviate the fact that the museum tries to 
whitewash her abhorrent views and props Margaret Sanger up as a role 
model for our daughters and for our granddaughters.
  The list of troubling examples goes on, including the fact they leave 
out the pro-life views of the early suffragettes.
  But let's face it, we wouldn't be here today if it weren't the 
museum's ultimate goal to get a place on The Federal Mall, for land, 
and for Federal funding. If you look at their authorizing legislation, 
you will see that it was a template for this legislation: begin with a 
commission, then congressional approval, and finally Federal funding. 
For 16 years, this group has tried to raise financial support, and the 
museum has only been able to raise enough to cover the current 
operating expenses and salaries of those trying to get this museum. 
Nothing has gone toward the $400 million for its building.
  As it is currently written, the legislation lacks the necessary 
safeguards to ensure that the proposed museum will not become an 
ideological shrine to abortion, that will eventually receive Federal 
funding and a prominent spot on The National Mall.
  I thank the leading pro-life groups, like Concerned Women for 
America, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, Susan B. Anthony List, 
and Heritage Action, among others, who have been outspoken on standing 
up for the right to life for all Americans in an accurate portrayal of 
American women.
  Since these concerns have not been adequately addressed, I urge my 
colleagues to join me in voting against H.R. 863.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, this bill, as we 
all know, if you read it, will not cost taxpayers one single dime. It 
will not cost taxpayers one single cent. It didn't cost it in the past, 
it doesn't today, and it will not in the future use any Federal 
funding. It is written into the legislation.
  And the commission is not at all about determining the content of the 
museum. That part would come much later if the recommendations were 
approved by this body. The content would be determined in the future by 
professional curators that would chronicle the history of this great 
country and the great women that are a part of it. The commission would 
have 18 months to prepare and submit their recommendations to Congress, 
and then Congress, this body, would have the final say. So if Congress 
decides favorably, then, and only then, would a second bill be needed 
to support the museum and move forward.
  So to vote ``no'' on this bill would basically be voting ``no'' on a 
cost-free, no-strings-attached conversation by a bipartisan panel on 
the important contributions of women to this country.
  I now yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and I 
thank her for her extraordinary leadership on this issue and so many, 
many other issues.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from 
New York. Her persistence has been indomitable; and without that 
persistence, we certainly would not be on the floor today.
  But I also want to thank the Majority leadership who have permitted 
this bill to come forward on suspension, and I particularly thank the 
gentlewoman from Wyoming for her leadership.
  The remarks of the gentlewoman from Minnesota were unfortunate. You 
would think you were voting on a museum. My colleagues, this is not a 
bill for a museum. This is a bill for a commission to study whether 
there should be a museum and under what circumstances. It is 
unfortunate, indeed, to criticize a bill for a study, the outcome of 
which we have no idea, except for the following:
  The appointees to this commission will come from the leadership of 
this House and the minority in this House and from the leadership in 
the Senate and the minority in the Senate. It seems to me it would be 
very difficult for this bill to be converted into not a study of 
whether the history of women in the United States should be 
commemorated but a study of current women's issues that are highly 
controversial. To have a museum featuring controversial issues of the 
day flies in

[[Page 7061]]

the face of what women's history has been about. That is for this 
House. That is not for a museum.
  There is no neglect of the issues that the gentlewoman was concerned 
about--pro-life issues, traditional family--where we find Democrats and 
Republicans on both sides of those issues. You get lots of discussion 
on that. But, Madam Speaker, there is almost no discussion about the 
history of women in our country.
  There are lots of things we could disagree about, but I think that 
almost no one will disagree that the time has come to at least study 
whether there should be an institution, a museum, not about women in 
America--and I stress, this is not a women's museum. It is about the 
history of women in America. The gentlewoman from New York has spoken 
about how distinguished that history has been. But it should come as no 
surprise that women were not writing the history books, and so women, 
like many others in our country, have not exactly been included. Yet we 
are half of the population.
  Wherever you stand on women's issues, I am sure there is consensus in 
this House that half of the population should not go unmentioned in the 
textbooks of our country, should not be unseen in the memorials and in 
the museums of our country, and certainly should be in the Nation's 
Capital. If there is to be a museum--and we don't know what the 
commission will find--I would surely hope it would be in the Nation's 
Capital, where, for the first time, women's history, historical figures 
who are women, would be acknowledged and perhaps commemorated.
  I do want to say one thing about what these commissions do. If we who 
desire a women's museum made any mistake, it was being so enthusiastic 
that we went straightforward to try to set up a museum, saw no reason 
why there wouldn't be unanimous consent, virtually, to have a museum 
about women's history in our country. That was a mistake. We should 
have gone the same route that many before us have gone: set up a 
commission to see whether you ought to have a museum at all; do it in 
an entirely bipartisan way so as to make sure that if you authorize a 
museum, it can't possibly be controversial.
  And that is what we have here, a fail-safe method of assuring that if 
you vote for this commission, you are voting for a study, and nothing 
more than a study. If you don't like this study, you will surely have 
another chance to say ``no.'' Women, Democratic and Republican, deserve 
a bipartisan commission to give our country, if they can agree, a 
nonpartisan museum in the Nation's Capital.
  And I thank the gentlelady from New York particularly for her hard 
work. This is hard work that began when the President's Commission on 
the Celebration of Women called for a women's museum in Washington. I 
remind the House that the House has voted for this museum. The Senate 
has voted for the museum. All that has been lacking is Senate and House 
votes for the museum at the same time.

                              {time}  1445

  Today we are not voting for a museum. We ask you to vote only for a 
commission to study whether there should be a museum. We got so far 
last time as to actually find land for this museum. All of that is 
pulled back to put before the House today: Do you believe that the 
history of women in the United States of America is important enough to 
appoint a commission to study that history?
  I thank the gentlelady.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to 
underscore that no taxpayer money will be used now or in the future. In 
fact, there is a National Women's History Museum organization with a 
501(c)(3) that is headed by Joan Wages, and they have already raised 
well over $10 million privately to support the commission and the 
commission's work.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 7 
minutes to the gentlelady from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Wyoming 
for her superb work on this issue and for her guidance as this bill 
moved through the Natural Resources Committee. It is amazing. We had 
two committees of jurisdiction that oversaw this legislation, House 
Admin, chaired by Congresswoman Candice Miller, and Natural Resources, 
with Congressman Doc Hastings.
  This legislation came through each of these committees on a unanimous 
vote--a unanimous vote, something deemed impossible in Washington--but 
everybody agrees that it is time that we come together and that we have 
an appropriate, bipartisan approach to addressing the collecting and 
the enshrining of what women have done in the fight and the cause of 
freedom.
  Now, Madam Speaker, I do want to highlight just a couple of things. 
There has been so much misinformation distributed about the bill. This 
is a 10-page bill--I should say nine pages and about three lines. I 
think that Congresswoman Maloney, who has worked so diligently on this 
effort, will say, and as she and I discussed this morning, we basically 
have come forward and agreed on a new approach for all museums that 
could possibly want to be considered. That approach is Congress, not a 
Presidential commission, but Congress having the ability to determine, 
in a bipartisan way, who serves on the commissions to review these 
museums and do a feasibility study, which is something those of us in 
business always do before we embark on any project. It is appropriate 
that the Federal Government do that, also. This is a fiscally 
conservative approach to addressing the cost of a museum.
  Now, the duties of the commission my colleagues are going to find on 
page 4, and you will see there are several things that will be covered 
in this feasibility study: the availability and cost of collections, 
the impact of the museum on women's regional, history-related museums, 
potential locations in D.C., whether or not the museum should ever be 
part of the Smithsonian, the governance and organizational structure, 
best practices for engaging women in the development and design of the 
museum, and the cost and construction of operating and maintaining. In 
other words, they have got to have an endowment. They have to be able 
to pay their operational costs and their upfront costs--all of it--with 
private funds--never, ever with one penny of taxpayer money into this 
project.
  Now, after 18 months of work, the commission will report back to 
Congress, an independent review will be done of their work, and then 
there will be a determination by Congress on whether or not to proceed 
with this project. That is the point at which there will be a vote on 
whether or not to carry forth with a museum.
  But I would highlight with my friends this is about chronicling the 
history that women have participated in, the freedom and opportunity of 
this country and the fullness of opportunity in this country. We talk 
so much about how we work with other nations and especially some of 
these nations that have struggled in Eastern Europe and in the Middle 
East, and we show what freedom can do for hope and opportunity for 
women and children.
  Wouldn't it be great if we had a museum that told that story? Like 
the story of the suffragists--Seneca Falls--that convention which--by 
the way it was Republican and conservative women and the Quakers who 
called together the Seneca Falls convention to start looking at the 
issue of suffrage. You probably are also interested to know Frederick 
Douglass was the one gentleman invited to speak at that convention on 
suffrage, then, of course, the suffragists who led the fight, Susan B. 
Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Anne Dallas 
Dudley--strong Republican women. It is time for that story to be told.
  The ratification of the 19th Amendment with women receiving the right 
to vote took place in Nashville, Tennessee, my State, at our State 
capitol, where I have had the opportunity, and the Speaker has also had 
the opportunity, to serve.

[[Page 7062]]

  We know that it is important to tell that story of what women have 
done in the cause of freedom. That is why we have come together to 
agree on the structure, to work to put a commission in place that will 
do the necessary due diligence, that will put the safeguards in place, 
and will guarantee that in perpetuity--forever--there will not be 
Federal taxpayer money that is spent on this.
  Madam Speaker, working to highlight what women have accomplished is a 
worthy goal, and it is something that in a bipartisan manner we should 
be able to come together and to agree on. This is a goal, and 
Washington, D.C., is an appropriate place that we can recognize this 
history, we can chronicle this history, and for future generations, our 
children, our grandchildren, and for other nations as they come to see 
us, they can see how women find victory through freedom, opportunity, 
and the doors that open and what it allows them to experience in their 
lives.
  I thank the chairman from Wyoming for yielding the time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I want to thank 
the gentlewoman from the great State of Tennessee for her statement on 
the floor today and her hard work in passing this bill.
  My good friend, Mrs. Bachmann, said there were 20 other women's 
museums. Well, there is not one comprehensive women's museum that 
chronicles the achievements and the contributions of women. There are 
many niche museums. There is a museum in Seneca Falls that pays tribute 
to the founding mothers of the first women's rights convention, the 
abolitionist movement, and the right for women to gain the right to 
vote. There are museums in the Capital for women artists. There is part 
of the Smithsonian that focuses on the first ladies and the gowns that 
they wore in their inaugural. There are niche museums out West for the 
pioneering great women who led the effort in the West. But there is not 
one comprehensive museum, and I find it astonishing in the United 
States that chronicles the many outstanding women contributions. If you 
Google all the women that have won the Nobel, it is astonishing, but 
there is no place that displays this.
  So, I think it is long overdue to have a national women's history 
museum. Quite frankly, I can't even find one in the entire world that 
chronicles women's contributions.
  I would now like to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from the great 
State of New York, Congresswoman Meng, my distinguished colleague, 
which she has requested, but she can have more if she wants it.
  Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank my colleagues, 
Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney and Marsha Blackburn, for championing 
this important issue.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 863 to establish the 
commission to study the potential creation of a national women's 
history museum. This bipartisan legislation is a small step to ensuring 
women's stories are shared, celebrated, and inspire future generations 
of Americans. Unfortunately, women's stories and accomplishments have 
consistently been forgotten, or presented only as a footnote.
  Despite the great strides women have made in America, we are still 
underrepresented in essential sectors, such as business, government, 
and the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics. Research has demonstrated that one of the factors limiting 
success for women and minorities is the lack of both celebrated 
specific role models and overall restricted representation.
  In other words, simply having a museum showcasing women's 
accomplishments as an integral part of our history--whether it is 
individuals who broke barriers, social movements led by women, or the 
demonstration that women were not necessarily defined by men in their 
lives--will ultimately lead to more young women and minorities striving 
to break the glass ceiling and create a more equitable society for us 
all.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I yield the gentlewoman an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. MENG. The National Women's History Museum already hosts online 
exhibits, but a building complete with permanent access to resources 
would allow for further research and increased access for our citizens.
  This legislation allows for the creation of a commission to study the 
feasibility of creating a permanent museum, and prohibits Federal funds 
from being used for this project. I encourage my colleagues to support 
this long overdue legislation.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute 
to the gentlelady from the great State of Maryland, Donna Edwards, the 
distinguished leader who is also the chair of the bipartisan Women's 
Caucus here in Congress.
  Ms. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewomen from New 
York, from Tennessee, and from Wyoming for your leadership and for 
doing what women do in this Congress, which is work together toward a 
common good. So I thank you very much for your leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 863, the National 
Women's History Commission Act. It is a bill that would establish a 
commission to study the potential creation of the National Women's 
History Museum right here in Washington, D.C., and, as has been stated 
before, not at any cost to the taxpayer.
  It would showcase the contributions that women have made throughout 
our history, both in this country and around the world, contributions 
that have historically been underrepresented, to say the least, in 
books, museums, and other records of our Nation's great story.
  There are institutions, for example, in Maryland, the Maryland 
Women's Heritage Center in Baltimore, that are really leading the 
pushback in our State against the void of women's representation in our 
historical records. The Baltimore Heritage Center serves as a museum, 
an information resource center, and a gathering place for events 
focused on impacting girls and women. When I visited the Heritage 
Center, number one, they said to me, are you supporting the National 
Women's History Commission Act?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I yield the gentlelady an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. EDWARDS. This will complement those histories and tell the story 
of women at the Goddard Space Flight Center, women who are in science, 
technology, engineering, and math; women who are engineers, explorers 
and innovators. So, I want to thank the gentlewomen for their work on 
this effort, and I urge my colleagues to support the commission bill, 
to study the process--there is no cost to the taxpayer--and to see into 
law, finally, telling the stories of women all across this country.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how 
much time remains?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from New York has 2 minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I would like to 
just point out and build on what my good friend and colleague, Marsha 
Blackburn, said. It was Seneca Falls in New York that was the 
birthplace of the suffrage movement to grant women the right to vote.
  In 1920, when the 19th Amendment granting that right to vote was at 
last in the process of being ratified by the States, it was the State 
of Tennessee that put that effort over the top. Now Tennessee and New 
York have come together again, and we are working very hard to create a 
women's museum that will talk about this great achievement and many 
others in all fields that have empowered this country and moved this 
country forward--not only achievements by individual women, but I would 
say collective achievements by women and their hard work, such as

[[Page 7063]]

the effort by women to create pasteurization of milk, the immunization 
of children, increased health care, improved health care, and improved 
education. These are all efforts that collectively women have worked 
together on.
  So I ask my colleagues today to vote ``yes'' on this bill and to vote 
for allowing an idea to be examined and to come forward before this 
committee again, and let's see how it can work.

                              {time}  1500

  A ``yes'' vote will cost this country nothing, and it could mean 
everything to our young people, to our girls and our boys and our 
children and their children to be able to come to their Nation's 
Capital and to learn many things, including the many important 
contributions of half the population, women.
  I would like to remind my colleagues that this is Mother's Day week, 
and I cannot think of a better present to our mothers than to recognize 
the contributions that they have made to the American family and to 
this country.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the women who have participated 
in this debate today. These are dynamic American leaders. I want to 
thank each and every one of them, including the gentlelady from 
Minnesota, who expressed the views of those who have concern about this 
bill. They were well articulated.
  She is someone with whom I am proud to serve in Congress and was very 
proud to see in the dais, participating in lively, strident debates 
when she ran for President, seeking the Republican nomination in the 
last Presidential election. These are all very formidable, important 
women--gentlewomen, one and all.
  I rise in support of the study and in support of the passage of this 
bill. I come from the Equality State, the State of Wyoming, the first 
government in the world to continuously grant women the right to vote, 
so I come by my point of view honestly.
  I am very excited about the opportunity to study and to report back 
to this Congress the notion of having a museum of the history of 
American women. The contributions to our society of American women are 
so extraordinary and are sometimes underrepresented.
  I particularly look forward to touting the opportunity to show the 
history of American women of the West, people like Cattle Kate. She was 
a criminal, a scoundrel, a cattle thief. She was the first woman hanged 
in Wyoming. She is a historical figure.
  Sacagawea, who led the Lewis and Clark expedition across this great, 
vast country; Annie Oakley, who was portrayed as a model of the 
American West and freedom in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show; and 
particularly, I would like to see Dale Evans recognized in this museum.
  Let me tell you something about Dale Evans you may not know. Dale 
Evans was an actress, a songwriter, a mother, and she was the wife of 
Roy Rogers. They were the king of the cowboys and the queen of the 
cowgirls. Dale Evans and Roy Rogers had a special-needs child among 
their many children.
  Back in Hollywood in the late 1940s and 1950s, there was a cultural 
condition in this country that was particularly prevalent in Hollywood, 
and that was people didn't want to see special-needs children in 
public. People didn't want to face the fact that not everyone in this 
country is born exactly the same.
  Roy and Dale took their special-needs child with them everywhere they 
went, and they were ostracized, and they ceased to be invited to 
people's homes because they didn't want to see that child. It was a 
gutsy thing to do.
  Roy Rogers and Dale Evans changed the way Americans viewed special-
needs children. Now, when we see special-needs people in our society, 
it puts a smile on our faces. They are so integrated into our every 
day, and they are important members of our society.
  When that child died, Dale Evans wrote the song ``Happy Trails'' to 
that child. She wrote, ``Happy trails to you, until we meet again,'' 
and in my heart, I believe they will meet again, Madam Speaker.
  I think those are the kinds of women that we want to see portrayed in 
American history, and I am highly supportive of this study. I look 
forward to robust participation by Republicans and Democrats and look 
forward to receiving the study, not knowing how it is going to turn 
out, but with great hope and expectation for something terrific, at 
least on paper, so we can determine at that point whether to move 
forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend to this body's attention H.R. 863.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 863 to 
commission a study on the potential creation of a National Women's 
History Museum.
  As you know Mr. Speaker, women make up over half of our population, 
and yet we know their stories are often underrepresented--and 
underappreciated--in our history.
  Here in the Capitol, for example, we have over 200 statues, but only 
12 depict women. As Ms. Magazine recently noted, ``The nation's capital 
includes museums for the postal service, textiles and spies, but lacks 
a museum to recognize the rich history and accomplishments of women in 
the U.S.''
  Mr. Speaker, the stories of women tell the story of our nation's 
history, and they deserve to be enshrined for future generations to 
learn and celebrate. I'm so pleased that my colleagues Carolyn Maloney 
and Marsha Blackburn have introduced this important legislation to 
start the process of creating a museum where the achievements and lives 
of women are chronicled and celebrated.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Women's 
History Commission Act, HR. 863, introduced by my esteemed colleague 
from New York, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
  Representative Maloney has worked diligently to get this important 
bill to the floor, and I thank her for her tremendous efforts.
  H.R. 863 would establish a commission to report recommendations to 
the President and Congress concerning the establishment of a National 
Women's History Museum in Washington, DC.
  The National Women's History Museum Commission would be at no 
additional cost to the taxpayer, as the commission is entirely paid for 
without the use of federal funds.
  The Museum's mission would be to educate, inspire, empower, and shape 
the future by integrating women's distinctive history into the culture 
of the United States.
  All too often, women's history is largely missing from textbooks, 
memorials, and museum exhibits.
  Of the 210 statues in the United States Capitol, only nine are of 
female leaders.
  Less than five percent of the 2,400 national historic landmarks 
chronicle women's achievement.
  The museums and memorials in our nation's capital demonstrate what we 
value.
  This bill would provide women, who comprise 53% of our population, a 
long overdue home on our National Mall honoring their many 
contributions that are the very backbone of our country.
  This effort is about bringing together women and remembering those 
women that came before us, who persevered and changed the course of 
history, and on whose shoulders we stand today.
  These unique experiences, perspectives, and historic accomplishments 
deserve recognition in our nation's capital.
  It is time for the women of our nation to be recognized with this 
landmark.
  H.R. 863 is a critical step in advancing the National Women's History 
Museum by providing us with a blueprint of steps to take in order to 
finally tell the story of more than half of our country's population.
  Let us honor our nation's foremothers and inspire present and future 
generations of women leaders.
  I urge all Members of the House to vote in favor of this bill.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H.R. 863, the National Women's History Museum Commission 
Act. Legislation to establish such a museum passed by voice vote in the 
113th Congress but the privately-funded museum lacks a home.
  While women's accomplishments have helped to build this country, 
historical contributions are missing from museums, textbooks, and 
memorials. This legislation would allow for

[[Page 7064]]

a commission to study the creation and make proposals for the building 
of the National Women's History Museum. At no cost to the taxpayer and 
without using any federal funds, the museum would help to tell the 
inspiring stories of the important women that came before us.
  Celebrating and recognizing women in history is necessary at a time 
when roughly ten percent of historical references are related to women. 
The legislation on the floor is not only bipartisan, it has the support 
of many male and female Members of Congress.
  Please join me in supporting H.R. 863, the National Women's History 
Museum Commission Act by passing the legislation today.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 863, a 
bill to establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Women's History Museum, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney of 
New York. While Natural Resources is the primary committee, the 
legislation was referred to the Committee on House Administration as an 
additional referral because H.R. 863 suggests that the Commission study 
whether or not such a museum, if created, should be part of the 
Smithsonian Institution. Our committee discussed that issue at a 
hearing before we filed our report in the House.
  I want to draw attention to an issue which was not addressed in 
amendments to this legislation by either committee--the proper 
structure of the Commission. The bill would create an 8-member 
commission, but previous commissions of this type to study whether 
museums should become part of the Smithsonian proposed a larger group, 
23 members. The larger number seems more practical for ensuring a 
variety of opinions and providing sufficient personnel to be available 
to do the Commission's work. There is likely to be significant interest 
by well-qualified persons to serve on the commission. Additionally, the 
bill only provides for appointments by the bipartisan, bicameral 
congressional leadership of each chamber of Congress, but not by the 
president. The recent commissions to study the National Museum of 
African American History and Culture, which is now under construction 
on the Mall, and the National Museum of the American Latino, which is 
now awaiting a hearing in the House Administration Committee, had 
presidential appointees. I believe this is a prerequisite for creating 
a truly national museum. When this legislation reaches the Senate, I 
hope that the other body will make appropriate adjustments to achieve 
this goal.
  I include the Additional Views submitted by the Democratic members of 
the Committee on House Administration as part of our committee report, 
H. Rept. 113 09411, Part 1, filed in the House on April 10, 2014:


                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

       We strongly support the ``Commission to Study the Potential 
     Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act of 2013'', 
     to recognize the role and achievements of the women of 
     America. H.R. 863, the bill introduced by Rep. Carolyn 
     Maloney of New York to authorize the commission, was ordered 
     reported unanimously by the Committee on House Administration 
     on April 2, 2014. The primary committee to which the 
     legislation was referred, Natural Resources, is expected to 
     report the legislation shortly.
       The principal interest of our Committee is in whether such 
     a museum should become part of the Smithsonian Institution. 
     The commission created by H.R. 863 is directed to study pros 
     and cons of a potential Smithsonian affiliation, and that 
     issue was also discussed during testimony at our earlier 
     hearing on this legislation. A Smithsonian museum would be 
     subject to direction by that Institution's Board of Regents 
     and its governance and management structure. Two other recent 
     national commissions were authorized by Congress and both 
     recommended that the Smithsonian structure be used for the 
     museums they were studying: the National Museum of African 
     American History and Culture, currently under construction on 
     the National Mall and scheduled to open in less than two 
     years; and the National Museum of the American Latino, whose 
     commission's report submitted in 2011 is likely to receive a 
     hearing soon in the Committee on House Administration.
       An alternative recommendation by the commission might be 
     for a National Women's History Museum to exist as an 
     independent entity, with its own governing board. In either 
     case, whether as a Smithsonian museum or independent, H.R. 
     863 anticipates that the museum will receive private 
     donations but no government funding.
       In reporting H.R. 863, our Committee took no position on 
     the governance issue, but we have ample experience in 
     evaluating the Smithsonian's capabilities in building and 
     managing the large number of museums currently under its 
     control, and so we kept that option in the bill. The 
     commission should exercise its best judgment in determining 
     what would work best for this specific museum within the 
     expected budgetary constraints, and Congress would review 
     those recommendations in formulating later legislation to 
     actually create a museum.
       One issue of concern to us relates to the size and 
     composition of the eight-member congressionally-appointed 
     commission proposed to be established in H.R. 863, and the 
     absence of any presidential appointees. In order to have a 
     true national museum, participation by the president is 
     important in order to give the commission the status and 
     credibility, as well as the variety of members, necessary to 
     perform its tasks and to help raise the necessary private 
     funds when that time comes. Both the African American Museum 
     commission and the American Latino Museum commission had 
     seven presidential appointees out of 23 members, with the 
     majority appointed by the congressional leadership.
       There are no partisan issues concerning this legislation. 
     The commission needs to be seen as the national commitment 
     that it is, rather than be limited as a creature of the 
     legislative branch.
       An amendment had been drafted by the Democratic staff, 
     which the House parliamentarian confirmed was within the 
     jurisdiction of the House Administration Committee to take 
     up, to establish presidential appointees in H.R. 863. Ranking 
     Member Brady alluded to the issue in his opening statement. 
     But the amendment was withheld during our markup at Chairman 
     Miller's request. The Committee on Natural Resources may 
     consider the issue in their role as the primary committee, at 
     their own markup, and we will continue to focus attention on 
     the issue during preparation of a final text of the bill for 
     action on the House floor.
     Robert A. Brady.
     Zoe Lofgren.
     Juan Vargas.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Womack). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 863, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________