SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Women’s His-
tory Museum Act of 2009’’. 
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) PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘property’’ means 
the property located in the District of Columbia, 
subject to survey and as determined by the Adminis-
trator, generally consisting of Squares 325 and 326.
The property is generally bounded by 12th Street, 
Independence Avenue, C Street, and the James For-
restal Building, all in Southwest Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia, and shall include all associated air 
rights, improvements thereon, and appurtenances 
thereto. 
SEC. 3. CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONVEY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements 
of this Act, the Administrator shall convey the prop-
erty to the Museum on such terms and conditions as 
the Administrator considers reasonable and appro-
priate to protect the interests of the United States 
and further the purposes of this Act. 
(2) AGREEMENT.—As soon as practicable, but 
not later than 180 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. 
(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. 
(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 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 section). 
(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 pursuant to a quit claim deed. 
(e) USE RESTRICTION.—The property shall be dedi-
cated for use as a site for a national women’s history mu-
seum for the 99-year period beginning on the date of con-
veyance to the Museum. 
(f) REVERSION.— 
(1) BASES
FOR
REVERSION.—The property 
shall revert to the United States, at the option of 
the United States, without any obligation for repay-
ment by the United States of any amount of the 
purchase price for the property, if— 
(A) the property 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 the property 
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 the property reverts to the United States 
pursuant to this section, such property shall be 
under the custody and control of the Administrator. 
(g) CLOSING DEADLINE.—The conveyance pursuant 
to this Act shall occur not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act. The Administrator may ex-
tend that period for such time as is reasonably necessary 
for the Museum to perform its obligations under section 
4(a). 
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, with the Museum or an affil-
iate thereof for the performance (on behalf of the Adminis-
trator) of response actions (if any) required on the prop-
erty pursuant to CERCLA. 
(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. 
Subject to section 4, the Museum shall bear any and 
all costs associated with complying with the provisions of 
this Act, including studies and reports, surveys, relocating 
tenants, and mitigating impacts to existing Federal build-
ings and structures resulting directly from the develop-
ment of the property by the Museum. 
SEC. 6. LAND USE APPROVALS. 
(a) EXISTING AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed as limiting or affecting the authority 
or responsibilities of the National Capital Planning Com-
mission or the Commission of Fine Arts. 
(b) COOPERATION.— 
(1) ZONING AND LAND USE.—Subject to para-
graph (2), the Administrator shall reasonably co-
operate with the Museum with respect to any zoning 
or other land use matter relating to development of 
the property in accordance with this Act. Such co-
operation shall include consenting to applications by 
the Museum for applicable zoning and permitting 
with respect to the property.
(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Administrator shall not 
be required to incur any costs with respect to co-
operation under this subsection and any consent pro-
vided under this subsection shall be premised on the 
property being developed and operated in accordance 
with this Act. 
SEC. 7. REPORTS. 
Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter until the end of the 
5-year period following conveyance of the property or until 
substantial completion of the museum facility (whichever 
is later), the Museum shall submit annual reports to the 
Administrator and the Committees detailing the develop-
ment and construction activities of the Museum with re-
spect to this Act. 
Passed the House of Representatives October 14, 
2009. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1700 
AN ACT 
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.