I 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 19 

To establish in the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women’s history 

museum, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 30, 2017 

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. ROYCE of California, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. BASS, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. BERA, Ms. BLUNT

ROCHESTER, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. 

CARTWRIGHT, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. CLAY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 

CRIST, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mrs. DAVIS of 

California, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. DELANEY, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. DENT, Mr. 

DESAULNIER, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, 

Mr. ELLISON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. FOSTER, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. 

GARAMENDI, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. HANABUSA, Mr. HECK, Ms. JACKSON

LEE, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, 

Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. KIHUEN, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. 

KING of New York, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Ms. 

LEE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN

GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of 

New York, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. 

MEEKS, Ms. MENG, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 

O’ROURKE, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. PETERS, 

Mr. RICHMOND, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCHIFF, 

Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. 

SINEMA, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mr. THOMPSON of 

California, Ms. TITUS, Mr. TONKO, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. 

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California, Mr. WELCH, 

Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. POLIS, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Ms. STEFANIK, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 

HIMES, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. HIGGINS of 

New York, Mr. EVANS, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Ms. TSONGAS, Ms. 

SA ́NCHEZ, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. REED, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. 

RASKIN, Ms. MOORE, Mr. MACARTHUR, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. COOPER, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. 

GUTIE ́RREZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. KUSTER of New Hampshire, 

Mr. SARBANES, Mr. TROTT, Mr. LANCE, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. 

STIVERS, Mr. KATKO, Mr. VALADAO, Mrs. MIMI WALTERS of California, 


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Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. PAULSEN, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, Mrs. LOVE, Mr. 

HURD, Mr. BACON, and Mr. BERGMAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in 

addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Transportation 

and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish in the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive 

women’s history museum, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Smithsonian Women’s 

5 History Museum Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) Since its founding, the United States has 

9 greatly benefitted from the contributions of women. 

10 (2) Historical accounts, monuments, memorials, 

11 and museums disproportionately represent men’s 

12 achievements and contributions and often neglect 

13 those of women. For example— 

14 (A) a study of 18 American history text15 books concluded that 10 percent of the material 

16 documented contributions of women; 


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1 (B) 9 statues out of 91 in the United 

2 States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall depict 

3 women; and 

4 (C) only one of the 44 monuments oper5 ated by the National Park Service specifically 

6 honors the achievements of women after the 

7 2016 designation of the Belmont-Paul Women’s 

8 Equality National Monument. 

9 (3) There exists no national museum in the 

10 United States that is devoted to the documentation 

11 of women’s contributions throughout the Nation’s 

12 history. 

13 (4) Establishing a comprehensive women’s his14 tory museum representing a diverse range of view15 points, experience, and backgrounds is necessary to 

16 more accurately depict the history of the United 

17 States and would add value to the Smithsonian In18 stitution. 

19 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

21 the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women’s his22 tory museum, to be named by the Board of Regents in 

23 consultation with the Council established under section 4. 

24 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the museum estab25 lished under this section shall be to provide for— 


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1 (1) the collection, study, and establishment of 

2 programs relating to women’s contributions to var3 ious fields and throughout different periods of his4 tory that have influenced the direction of the United 

5 States; 

6 (2) collaboration with other Smithsonian Insti7 tution museums and facilities, outside museums, and 

8 educational institutions; and 

9 (3) the creation of exhibitions and programs 

10 that recognize diverse perspectives on women’s his11 tory and contributions. 

12 SEC. 4. COUNCIL. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

14 the Smithsonian Institution a council to carry out the du15 ties set forth under subsection (b) and other provisions 

16 of this Act. 

17 (b) DUTIES.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The council established 

19 under this section shall— 

20 (A) make recommendations to the Board 

21 of Regents concerning the planning, design, and 

22 construction of the museum established under 

23 section 3; 

24 (B) advise and assist the Board of Regents 

25 on all matters relating to the administration, 


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1 operation, maintenance, and preservation of the 

2 museum; 

3 (C) recommend annual operating budgets 

4 for the museum to the Board of Regents; 

5 (D) report annually to the Board of Re6 gents on the acquisition, disposition, and dis7 play of objects relating to women’s art, history, 

8 and culture; and 

9 (E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the 

10 council. 

11 (2) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The coun12 cil, subject to the general policies of the Board of 

13 Regents, shall have sole authority to— 

14 (A) purchase, accept, borrow, and other15 wise acquire artifacts for addition to the collec16 tions of the museum; 

17 (B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dis18 pose of any part of the collections of the mu19 seum, but only if the funds generated by that 

20 disposition are used for additions to the collec21 tions of the museum; or 

22 (C) specify criteria with respect to the use 

23 of the collections and resources of the museum, 

24 including policies on programming, education, 

25 exhibitions, and research with respect to— 


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1 (i) the life, art, history, and culture of 

2 women; 

3 (ii) the role of women in the history of 

4 the United States; and 

5 (iii) the contributions of women to so6 ciety. 

7 (3) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.—The council, 

8 subject to the general policies of the Board of Re9 gents, shall have authority— 

10 (A) to provide for preservation, restoration, 

11 and maintenance of the collections of the mu12 seum; and 

13 (B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of 

14 gifts, bequests, and devises of personal property 

15 for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the 

16 work of the museum. 

17 (c) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The council shall be com19 posed of 25 voting members as provided under para20 graph (2). 

21 (2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The council shall in22 clude the following voting members: 

23 (A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In24 stitution. 


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1 (B) One member of the Board of Regents, 

2 appointed by the Board of Regents. 

3 (C) Twenty-three individuals appointed by 

4 the Board or Regents. In appointing members 

5 under this subparagraph, the Board of Regents 

6 should give special consideration to appoint7 ing— 

8 (i) members of the Congressional 

9 Commission; 

10 (ii) board members of the National 

11 Women’s History Museum, a nonprofit, 

12 educational organization described in sec13 tion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 

14 Code of 1986 that was incorporated in 

15 1996 in the District of Columbia and that 

16 is dedicated for the purpose of establishing 

17 a women’s history museum; and 

18 (iii) scholars and representatives of 

19 organizations that are committed to the 

20 study of women’s history. 

21 (3) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Board of 

22 Regents shall make initial appointments to the coun23 cil under paragraph (2) not later than 180 days 

24 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

25 (d) TERMS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 

2 subsection, each appointed member of the council 

3 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. 

4 (2) INITIAL APPOINTEES.—As designated by 

5 the Board of Regents at the time of appointment, of 

6 the voting members first appointed under subpara7 graph (C) of subsection (c)(2)— 

8 (A) 8 members shall be appointed for a 

9 term of 1 year; 

10 (B) 8 members shall be appointed for a 

11 term of 2 years; and 

12 (C) 7 members shall be appointed for a 

13 term of 3 years. 

14 (3) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member of the coun15 cil may be reappointed, except that no individual 

16 may serve on the council for a total of more than 

17 2 terms. For purposes of this paragraph, the num18 ber of terms an individual serves on the council shall 

19 not include any portion of a term for which an indi20 vidual is appointed to fill a vacancy under paragraph 

21 (4)(B). 

22 (4) VACANCIES.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the coun24 cil— 


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1 (i) shall not affect the powers of the 

2 council; and 

3 (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 

4 as the original appointment was made. 

5 (B) TERM.—Any member of the council 

6 appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the 

7 expiration of the term for which the member’s 

8 predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 

9 for the remainder of that term. 

10 (e) COMPENSATION.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para12 graph (2), a member of the council shall serve with13 out pay. 

14 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the 

15 council shall be allowed travel expenses, including 

16 per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 

17 for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 

18 chapter 57 of title 5, while away from the home or 

19 regular place of business of the member in the per20 formance of the duties of the Council. 

21 (f) CHAIRPERSON.—By a majority vote of its voting 

22 members, the council shall elect a chairperson from its 

23 members. 

24 (g) MEETINGS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The council shall meet at 

2 the call of the chairperson or on the written request 

3 of a majority of the voting members of the council, 

4 but not fewer than twice each year. 

5 (2) INITIAL MEETINGS.—During the 1-year pe6 riod beginning on the date of the first meeting of the 

7 council, the council shall meet not fewer than 4 

8 times for the purpose of carrying out the duties of 

9 the council under this subchapter. 

10 (h) QUORUM.—A majority of the voting members of 

11 the council holding office shall constitute a quorum for 

12 the purpose of conducting business, but a lesser number 

13 may receive information on behalf of the council. 

14 SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE MUSEUM. 

15 (a) DIRECTOR.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The museum established 

17 under section 3 shall have a Director who shall be 

18 appointed by the Secretary, taking into consideration 

19 individuals recommended by the council established 

20 under section 4. 

21 (2) DUTIES.—The Director shall manage the 

22 museum subject to the policies of the Board of Re23 gents. 

24 (b) STAFF.—The Secretary may appoint two addi25 tional employees to serve under the Director, except that 


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1 such additional employees may be appointed without re2 gard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov3 erning appointments in the competitive service. 

4 (c) PAY.—The employees appointed by the Secretary 

5 under subsection (b) may be paid without regard to the 

6 provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 

7 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification 

8 of positions and General Schedule pay rates. 

9 SEC. 6. EDUCATIONAL AND LIAISON PROGRAMS. 

10 (a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Director of the 

11 museum established under section 3 may carry out edu12 cational and liaison programs in support of the goals of 

13 the museum. 

14 (b) COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS.—In carrying 

15 out this section, the Director shall carry out educational 

16 programs in collaboration with elementary schools, sec17 ondary schools, and postsecondary schools. 

18 SEC. 7. BUILDING. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.— 

20 (1) LOCATION.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 

22 months after the date of the enactment of this 

23 Act, the Board of Regents shall designate a site 

24 for the museum established under section 3. 


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1 (B) SITES FOR CONSIDERATION.—In des2 ignating a site under subparagraph (A), the 

3 Board of Regents shall select from among the 

4 following sites in the District of Columbia: 

5 (i) The site known as the ‘‘South 

6 Monument site’’, located on the National 

7 Mall and bordered by 14th Street North8 west, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Raoul 

9 Wallenberg Place Southwest, and Inde10 pendence Ave Southwest. 

11 (ii) The Northwest United States 

12 Capitol site, bordered by 3rd Street North13 west, Constitution Avenue Northwest, 1st 

14 Street Northwest, and Pennsylvania Ave 

15 Northwest. 

16 (C) AVAILABILITY OF SITE.— 

17 (i) IN GENERAL.—Each site described 

18 in subparagraph (B) shall remain available 

19 until the date on which the Board of Re20 gents designates a site for the museum 

21 under subparagraph (A). 

22 (ii) TRANSFER TO SMITHSONIAN IN23 STITUTION.—If the site designated for the 

24 museum is in an area that is under the ad25 ministrative jurisdiction of a Federal agenVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Apr 04, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H19.IH H19

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1 cy, as soon as practicable after the date on 

2 which the designation is made, the head of 

3 the Federal agency shall transfer to the 

4 Smithsonian Institution administrative ju5 risdiction over the area. 

6 (D) FACTORS CONSIDERED.—In desig7 nating a site under subparagraph (A), the 

8 Board of Regents shall take into consideration 

9 each of the following factors: 

10 (i) An estimate of the costs associated 

11 with each potential site. 

12 (ii) An assessment of the suitability of 

13 the space of each potential site, including 

14 size, proximity to other buildings and 

15 transportation, and other external environ16 mental conditions, as appropriate. 

17 (iii) The recommendations of the Con18 gressional Commission. 

19 (E) CONSULTATION.—The Board of Re20 gents shall carry out its duties under this para21 graph in consultation with each of the fol22 lowing: 

23 (i) The Chair of the National Capital 

24 Planning Commission. 


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1 (ii) The Chair of the Commission on 

2 Fine Arts. 

3 (iii) The Chair of the Congressional 

4 Commission. 

5 (iv) The chair and ranking minority 

6 member of the Committees on Appropria7 tions and Rules and Administration of the 

8 Senate. 

9 (v) The chair and ranking minority 

10 member of the Committees on Appropria11 tions, House Administration, and Trans12 portation and Infrastructure of the House 

13 of Representatives. 

14 (b) CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING.—The Board of 

15 Regents, in consultation with the Council, may plan, de16 sign, and construct a building for the museum, which shall 

17 be located at the site designated by the Board of Regents 

18 under subsection (a). 

19 (c) NONAPPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS RELATING

20 TO MONUMENTS AND COMMEMORATIVE WORKS.—Chap21 ter 89 of title 40, United States Code, shall not apply with 

22 respect to the museum. 

23 (d) USE OF PRIVATE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION.— 

24 The Board of Regents shall construct the building for the 

25 museum with funds provided from non-Federal sources. 


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1 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act, the following definitions apply: 

3 (1) The term ‘‘Board of Regents’’ means the 

4 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 

5 (2) The term ‘‘Congressional Commission’’ 

6 means the Commission to Study the Potential Cre7 ation of a National Women’s History Museum, es8 tablished under section 3056 of the Military Con9 struction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 

10 (Public Law 113–291; 128 Stat. 3810). 

11 (3) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

12 of the Smithsonian Institution. 

13 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro15 priated to the Smithsonian Institution to carry out this 

16 Act, including the planning, design, and operation of the 

17 museum established under section 3, such sums as may 

18 be necessary for fiscal year 2018 and each succeeding fis19 cal year. 

20 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 

21 to the authorization under this section shall remain avail22 able until expended. 

23 (c) USE OF FUNDS FOR FUNDRAISING.—Amounts 

24 appropriated pursuant to the authorization under this secVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:40 Apr 04, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H19.IH H19

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1 tion may be used to conduct fundraising in support of the 

2 museum established under section 3 from private sources. 

Æ 


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