National Women's History Museum

Today, April 21, 2010, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee passed HR 1700 and S. 2129 by a voice vote. In introducing the bill on the agenda, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer stated, “I wholeheartedly support this bill” and then she listed Senators Amy Klobuchar and Kirsten Gillibrand who are EPW members and were also original cosponsors on the Senate bill.

One amendment, called a “technical correction,” was made to both bills. The amendment corrects a drafting error in the bill so that the Museum will be covered by all environmental protections. NWHM could run into environmental contamination on the site at 12^th Street and Independence Avenue SW that is designated in the legislation and clean-up could be costly. This correction ensures that the federal government is responsible for any necessary clean-up as provided in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, And Liability Act (better known as CERCLA).

Since only one bill can be signed into law and it must have passed the House and Senate, it has been agreed that the House bill, HR 1700, will be the one that proceeds to the Senate floor for passage. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s staff has committed to “hotlining” the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.

The amendment added in EPW will require the bill to go back again to the House for final passage. That way, identical bills will have passed the House and Senate and it can go to the President’s desk for signing. While the correction to the language adds one more step by referring the bill back to the House, it provides vital protections to NWHM. NWHM is very appreciative of all the work done by Senate and House staff to ensure the correction is in the best interest of the Museum.

Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, U.S. Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation to create a National Women’s History museum on a site near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. that is currently owned by the General Services Administration (GSA). The National Women’s History Museum Act of 2009 was introduced with the support of a bipartisan group of 19 other senators. It directs the GSA to enter into a long-term occupancy agreement with the National Women’s History Museum, Inc. (NWHM), a nonprofit organization, to develop the site at 12^th Street and Independence Avenue, SW.

It is estimated that such a museum would draw more than 1.5 million visitors to the nation’s capital each year.

“Such a museum would also showcase the many important social, economic, cultural, and political contributions that women have made to our country. And all this could be done at virtually no cost to taxpayers,” said Senator Collins.

Under Senator Collins’ bill, NWHM would pay fair market value to occupy the site, and would be responsible for construction.

“This is a great use for an empty lot on our National Mall, and it makes good fiscal sense,” said Senator Collins.

WASHINGTON, DC –Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today hailed House passage of their bill, H.R. 1700, to establish a National Women’s  History Museum near the National Mall in Washington.

“From Louisa May Alcott to Kristi Yamaguchi, the story of what women have contributed to the American way of life is a story long overdue for the telling,” Rep. Maloney said. “House passage today is a recognition of that story. Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Pelosi—a trailblazer herself—and Chairman Oberstar and subcommittee Chair Norton, American women are one step closer to a long-overdue ‘museum of our own’.”

“Thank goodness women understand that good things are worth fighting for. As Chair of the subcommittee considering this bill, I had to maneuver through the technicalities that always come with federal land transfer. I am grateful that the perseverance of the women who conceived the idea of this museum was the wind at my back,” said Rep. Norton.

“Today the House has sent a powerful message to young women all across this country,” said Rep. Capito. “With the National Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, Americans of all walks of life will have the opportunity to honor and remember the contributions women have made to our great nation. I’m honored to be a co-sponsor of this important resolution and I applaud the joint effort of my colleagues in making this bill a reality.”

“After many years of working toward this goal, passage of the House bill is a remarkable achievement for the National Women’s History Museum!” said Joan Wages, President and CEO of the National Women’s History Museum. “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Rep. Maloney for championing our efforts to ensure that women are honored in our nation’s capital.”

The bill directs the General Services Administration to sell property, located across from the National Mall at 12^th and Independence, to the museum at a fair market rate. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is expected to introduce the Senate companion to H.R. 1700.

WASHINGTON, DC – March 25, 2009

Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Rosa DeLauro (CT), Marcy Kaptur (OH), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL) and

Mary Fallin (OK) today reintroduced the “National Women’s History Museum Act” (H.R. 1700) to create a new national museum on the Mall in Washington, DC to honor the role that women have played in American History.

“The museums and memorials in our nation’s Capitol demonstrate what we value,” Rep. Maloney said. “ We have museums dedicated to flight, postage stamps, law enforcement and many other people and causes, but nothing for women. Less than five per cent of the 2,400 national historic landmarks chronicle women’ s achievement. And of the 210 statues here in the U.S. Capitol, only nine are of female leaders. This bill would provide women, comprising 53% of our population, a long over due home to honor their many contributions to building our great country.”

“Women constitute the majority of our population. They make invaluable contributions to our country through family, government, corporations, education, 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,” Sen. Collins said. “Such a museum would demonstrate the gratitude and respect we owe to the many generations of American women who have helped build, sustain, and advance our society.” Senator Collins is expected to introduce the Senate companion shortly.

“The women who have persevered for years to develop the idea of a National Women’s History Museum have shaped a vision that I am proud to co-sponsor as legislation. They deserve the support of the American people in the task of raising a museum in the nation’s capital that places the history of the women in our nation front and center in the nation’s capital,” Rep. Norton said.

“From the writings of Abigail Adams, to the women of the suffrage movement, to America’s mothers –women have been at the forefront of shaping our nation’s future,” Rep. Capito said. “With this bill we can truly honor their work, remember their sacrifice and teach their many lessons to the next generation of Americans.”

“It is important to showcase the achievements, invaluable contributions and impact that women have had in the U.S. and around the world. A National Women’s History Museum would offer a venue that would honor the role women have played in writing our nation’s history, ”said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

The bill directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell its old Cotton Annex property on the Mall at 12^th and Independence to the museum at fair-market rates. The museum would be built and maintained with private funds.