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 Cali-
fornia, 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 Mas-
sachusetts, 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. CON-
NOLLY, 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. 
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 ‘‘Smithsonian Women’s 
History Museum Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Since its founding, the United States has 
greatly benefitted from the contributions of women. 
(2) Historical accounts, monuments, memorials, 
and museums disproportionately represent men’s 
achievements and contributions and often neglect 
those of women. For example— 
(A) a study of 18 American history text-
books concluded that 10 percent of the material 
documented contributions of women; 
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(B) 9 statues out of 91 in the United 
States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall depict 
women; and 
(C) only one of the 44 monuments oper-
ated by the National Park Service specifically 
honors the achievements of women after the 
2016 designation of the Belmont-Paul Women’s 
Equality National Monument. 
(3) There exists no national museum in the 
United States that is devoted to the documentation 
of women’s contributions throughout the Nation’s 
history. 
(4) Establishing a comprehensive women’s his-
tory museum representing a diverse range of view-
points, experience, and backgrounds is necessary to 
more accurately depict the history of the United 
States and would add value to the Smithsonian In-
stitution. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women’s his-
tory museum, to be named by the Board of Regents in 
consultation with the Council established under section 4. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the museum estab-
lished under this section shall be to provide for— 
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(1) the collection, study, and establishment of 
programs relating to women’s contributions to var-
ious fields and throughout different periods of his-
tory that have influenced the direction of the United 
States; 
(2) collaboration with other Smithsonian Insti-
tution museums and facilities, outside museums, and 
educational institutions; and 
(3) the creation of exhibitions and programs 
that recognize diverse perspectives on women’s his-
tory and contributions. 
SEC. 4. COUNCIL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Smithsonian Institution a council to carry out the du-
ties set forth under subsection (b) and other provisions 
of this Act. 
(b) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The council established 
under this section shall— 
(A) make recommendations to the Board 
of Regents concerning the planning, design, and 
construction of the museum established under 
section 3; 
(B) advise and assist the Board of Regents 
on all matters relating to the administration, 
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operation, maintenance, and preservation of the 
museum; 
(C) recommend annual operating budgets 
for the museum to the Board of Regents; 
(D) report annually to the Board of Re-
gents on the acquisition, disposition, and dis-
play of objects relating to women’s art, history, 
and culture; and 
(E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the 
council. 
(2) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The coun-
cil, subject to the general policies of the Board of 
Regents, shall have sole authority to— 
(A) purchase, accept, borrow, and other-
wise acquire artifacts for addition to the collec-
tions of the museum; 
(B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dis-
pose of any part of the collections of the mu-
seum, but only if the funds generated by that 
disposition are used for additions to the collec-
tions of the museum; or 
(C) specify criteria with respect to the use 
of the collections and resources of the museum, 
including policies on programming, education, 
exhibitions, and research with respect to— 
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(i) the life, art, history, and culture of 
women; 
(ii) the role of women in the history of 
the United States; and 
(iii) the contributions of women to so-
ciety. 
(3) OTHER
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The council, 
subject to the general policies of the Board of Re-
gents, shall have authority— 
(A) to provide for preservation, restoration, 
and maintenance of the collections of the mu-
seum; and 
(B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts, bequests, and devises of personal property 
for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the 
work of the museum. 
(c) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The council shall be com-
posed of 25 voting members as provided under para-
graph (2). 
(2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The council shall in-
clude the following voting members: 
(A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
stitution. 
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(B) One member of the Board of Regents, 
appointed by the Board of Regents. 
(C) Twenty-three individuals appointed by 
the Board or Regents. In appointing members 
under this subparagraph, the Board of Regents 
should give special consideration to appoint-
ing— 
(i) members of the Congressional 
Commission; 
(ii) board members of the National 
Women’s History Museum, a nonprofit, 
educational organization described in sec-
tion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 that was incorporated in 
1996 in the District of Columbia and that 
is dedicated for the purpose of establishing 
a women’s history museum; and 
(iii) scholars and representatives of 
organizations that are committed to the 
study of women’s history. 
(3) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The Board of 
Regents shall make initial appointments to the coun-
cil under paragraph (2) not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(d) TERMS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 
subsection, each appointed member of the council 
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. 
(2) INITIAL
APPOINTEES.—As designated by 
the Board of Regents at the time of appointment, of 
the voting members first appointed under subpara-
graph (C) of subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) 8 members shall be appointed for a 
term of 1 year; 
(B) 8 members shall be appointed for a 
term of 2 years; and 
(C) 7 members shall be appointed for a 
term of 3 years. 
(3) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member of the coun-
cil may be reappointed, except that no individual 
may serve on the council for a total of more than 
2 terms. For purposes of this paragraph, the num-
ber of terms an individual serves on the council shall 
not include any portion of a term for which an indi-
vidual is appointed to fill a vacancy under paragraph 
(4)(B). 
(4) VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the coun-
cil— 
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(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
council; and 
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
as the original appointment was made. 
(B) TERM.—Any member of the council 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the 
expiration of the term for which the member’s 
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 
for the remainder of that term. 
(e) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a member of the council shall serve with-
out pay. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
council shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, while away from the home or 
regular place of business of the member in the per-
formance of the duties of the Council. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—By a majority vote of its voting 
members, the council shall elect a chairperson from its 
members. 
(g) MEETINGS.— 
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