I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1700 
To authorize the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of 
real property in the District of Columbia to provide for the establishment 
of a National Women’s History Museum. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 25, 2009 
Mrs. MALONEY (for herself, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. NORTON, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. 
DELAURO, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. WATSON, Ms. 
HIRONO, Ms. FALLIN, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mrs. BLACKBURN, 
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To authorize the Administrator of General Services to convey 
a parcel of real property in the District of Columbia 
to provide for the establishment of a National Women’s 
History Museum. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Women’s His-
tory Museum Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of General Serv-
ices. 
(2) CERCLA.—The term ‘‘CERCLA’’ means 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Com-
pensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 
9601 et seq.). 
(3) COMMITTEES.—The term ‘‘Committees’’ 
means the Committee on Transportation and Infra-
structure of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
Senate. 
(4) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the 
National Women’s History Museum, Inc., a District 
of Columbia nonprofit corporation exempt from tax-
ation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986. 
(5) NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.— 
The term ‘‘northern portion of the property’’ means 
that portion of the property which the Administrator 
and the Museum deem appropriate for the museum 
facility. 
(6) PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘property’’ means 
the property located in the District of Columbia, 
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subject to survey and as determined by the Adminis-
trator, generally consisting of Squares 325 and 326, 
and the westerly portions of Squares 351 and 352, 
including the parcel and structure commonly known 
as the ‘‘Cotton Annex’’. The property is generally 
bounded by 12th Street, Independence Avenue, 
Maryland Avenue, the James Forrestal Building, 
and L’Enfant Plaza, all in Southwest Washington, 
District of Columbia, and shall include all associated 
air rights, improvements thereon, and appurtenances 
thereto. 
(7) SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.— 
The term ‘‘southern portion of the property’’ means 
that portion of the property other than the northern 
portion of the property. 
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements 
of this Act, the Administrator shall convey the 
northern portion of the property to the Museum, 
and shall have the authority to convey the southern 
portion of the property to the Museum, in each case 
on such terms and conditions as the Administrator 
considers reasonable and appropriate to protect the 
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interests of the United States and further the pur-
poses of this Act. 
(2) AGREEMENT.—As soon as practicable, but 
not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an 
agreement with the Museum for the conveyance. 
(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The terms and 
conditions of the agreement shall address, among 
other things, mitigation of developmental impacts to 
existing Federal buildings and structures, security 
concerns, and operational protocols for development 
and use of the property. 
(4) SEPARATE
CONVEYANCE
OF
NORTHERN 
AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS.—Under the agreement, 
the Administrator may convey the northern portion 
of the property separately from and, if so agreed by 
the Administrator and the Museum, at a different 
time than the southern portion of the property (if 
such southern portion is conveyed). 
(b) PURCHASE PRICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The purchase price for the 
property shall be its fair market value based on its 
highest and best use as determined by an inde-
pendent appraisal commissioned by the Adminis-
trator and paid for by the Museum. 
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(2) SELECTION OF APPRAISER.—The appraisal 
shall be performed by an appraiser mutually accept-
able to the Administrator and the Museum. 
(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR APPRAISAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by 
subparagraph (B), the assumptions, scope of 
work, and other terms and conditions related to 
the appraisal assignment shall be mutually ac-
ceptable to the Administrator and the Museum. 
(B) REQUIRED
TERMS.—The following 
terms and conditions shall apply to the ap-
praisal: 
(i) The appraisal shall assume that 
the property does not contain hazardous 
substances (as defined in section 101 of 
CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9601)) which require 
response action (as defined in such sec-
tion). 
(ii) The appraisal shall state a value 
for the property as a whole as well as sepa-
rate values for the northern portion and 
southern portion of the property, taking 
into consideration the impact to value (if 
any) resulting from a conveyance of less 
than the entirety of the property. 
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(c) APPLICATION
OF
PROCEEDS.—The purchase 
price shall be paid into the Federal Buildings Fund estab-
lished under section 592 of title 40, United States Code. 
Upon deposit, the Administrator may expend, in amounts 
specified in appropriations Acts, the proceeds from the 
conveyance for any lawful purpose consistent with existing 
authorities granted to the Administrator; except that the 
Administrator shall provide the Committees with 30 days 
advance written notice of any expenditure of the proceeds. 
(d) QUIT CLAIM DEED.—The property shall be con-
veyed (in the case of the southern portion of the property, 
if at all) pursuant to one or more quit claim deeds (one 
for the northern portion of the property and one for the 
southern portion of the property). 
(e) USE RESTRICTIONS.— 
(1) NORTHERN PORTION.—The northern por-
tion of the property shall be dedicated for use as a 
site for a national women’s history museum for the 
99-year period beginning on date of conveyance of 
that portion to the Museum. 
(2) SOUTHERN PORTION.—The southern por-
tion of the property may be used for any purposes 
permitted by applicable laws and regulations. 
(f) REVERSION.— 
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(1) BASES FOR REVERSION.—The northern por-
tion of the property shall revert to the United 
States, at the option of the United States, without 
any obligation for repayment by the United States 
of any amount of the purchase price for the prop-
erty, if— 
(A) that portion is not used as a site for 
a national women’s history museum at any time 
during the 99-year period referred to in sub-
section (e); or 
(B) the Museum has not commenced con-
struction of a museum facility on that portion 
in the 5-year period beginning on the date of 
enactment of this Act, other than for reasons 
beyond the control of the Museum as reason-
ably determined by the Administrator. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT.—The Administrator may 
perform any acts necessary to enforce the rever-
sionary rights provided in this section. 
(3) CUSTODY
OF
PROPERTY
UPON
REVER-
SION.—If any portion of the property reverts to the 
United States pursuant to this section, such prop-
erty shall be under the custody and control of the 
Administrator. 
(g) CLOSING.— 
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(1) DEADLINE.—Any conveyance pursuant to 
this Act shall occur not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act. The Administrator 
may extend that period for such time as is reason-
ably necessary for the Museum to perform its obliga-
tions under section 4(a). 
(2) APPLICABILITY
OF
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
requirements of this Act shall remain in full force 
and effect with respect to any portion of the prop-
erty conveyed before the deadline established by 
paragraph (1) or any extension. 
SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT FOR ENVIRON-
MENTAL RESPONSE ACTIONS.—The Administrator is au-
thorized to contract, in an amount not to exceed the pur-
chase price for the property, in the absence of appropria-
tions and otherwise without regard to section 1341 of title 
31, United States Code, with the Museum or an affiliate 
thereof for the performance (on behalf of the Adminis-
trator) of response actions (if any) required on the prop-
erty pursuant to CERCLA. Any officer or employee of the 
United States may contract for payment of costs or ex-
penses related to any properties that are conveyed (or to 
be conveyed) under this Act. 
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(b) CREDITING OF RESPONSE COSTS.—Any costs in-
curred by the Museum or an affiliate thereof pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall be credited to the purchase price for 
the property. 
(c) RELATIONSHIP TO CERCLA.—Nothing in this 
Act may be construed to affect or limit the application 
of or obligation to comply with any environmental law, in-
cluding section 120(b) of CERCLA (42 U.S.C. 9620(b)). 
SEC. 5. INCIDENTAL COSTS. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to section 4, the 
Museum shall bear any and all costs associated with com-
plying with the provisions of this Act, including studies 
and reports, surveys, relocating tenants, and mitigating 
impacts to existing Federal buildings and structures re-
sulting directly from the development of the property by 
the Museum. 
(b) RELOCATION OF EXISTING TENANTS.—The costs 
of relocating existing tenants (including the costs of re-
lated studies) shall be paid by the Museum up to an 
amount to be agreed upon by the Administrator and the 
Museum in the agreement entered into under section 
3(a)(2), and any costs in excess of such agreed upon 
amount shall be credited to the purchase price for the 
property upon the closing on the portion of the property 
first conveyed. 
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