I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1246
To create a National Museum of Women’s History Advisory Committee.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 24, 1999
Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Ms. NORTON,
Mrs. ROUKEMA, Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. ALLEN, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr.
BERMAN, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. BROWN of Ohio,
Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. DUNN, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mrs. JONES of Ohio,
Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FROST, Mr.
GREEN of Texas, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JACK-
SON-LEE of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. KAP-
TUR, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. KUCINICH,
Ms. LEE, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. MEEK of Florida,
Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mrs. MORELLA, Ms.
ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SHOWS, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. THUR-
MAN, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. VENTO, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Ms.
WOOLSEY, Mr. WYNN, and Mr. GALLEGLY) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To create a National Museum of Women’s History Advisory
Committee.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) A national institution in Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia, the Nation’s Capital, that is dedi-
cated to the heritage of women does not exist.
(2) In the 34-year period beginning with 1963,
only 2 exhibits were authorized on women’s history
at the National Museum of American History.
(3) Less than 5 percent of the Nation’s 2,200
National Historic Landmarks are dedicated to
women, and there are only 40 public outdoor statues
of American women in our Nation.
(4) The historic contributions of women to civ-
ilization and to our Nation have gone unnoted or are
misunderstood, leaving a gap in our Nation’s histor-
ical record.
(5) Knowledge of one’s heritage is critical in de-
veloping a personal sense of competence and poten-
tial.
(6) Lack of appreciation for women’s historic
contributions leads to a lack of value, understanding,
and respect for women and girls, and invites dis-
crimination or violence against females.
(7) A National Museum of Women’s History is
needed to profile the specific achievements that indi-
vidual women have made to all aspects of human en-
deavor, and to explore and celebrate the contribu-
tions that women have made in their various roles
in family and society.
SEC. 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
There is established an advisory committee to be
known as the National Museum of Women’s History Advi-
sory Committee (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Advisory
Committee’’).
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee shall be
composed of 5 ex officio nonvoting members and 21 voting
members.
(b) EX OFFICIO NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The Advi-
sory Committee shall be composed of 5 ex officio non-
voting members, of whom—
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent;
(2) 1 member shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary of the Interior;
(3) 1 member shall be appointed by the Admin-
istrator of General Services;
(4) 1 member shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary of Commerce; and
(5) 1 member shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary of Education.
(c) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Advisory Committee
shall be composed of 21 voting members, of whom—
(1) 1 member shall be appointed by the Speak-
er of the House of Representatives, from among the
Members of the House of Representatives;
(2) 1 member shall be appointed by the Minor-
ity Leader of the House of Representatives, from
among the Members of the House of Representa-
tives;
(3) 1 member shall be appointed by the Major-
ity Leader of the Senate, from among the Members
of the Senate;
(4) 1 member shall be appointed by the Minor-
ity Leader of the Senate, from among the Members
of the Senate;
(5) 5 members shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the National Museum of Women’s History,
Inc., from among the founding members of such
Board or the members of such Board; and
(6) 12 members shall be appointed by the
President of the National Museum of Women’s His-
tory, Inc., in consultation with the Secretary of the
Interior, from among private citizens who can con-
tribute to the success of the Advisory Committee as
determined by such President—
(A) at least 5 of whom shall be appointed
after consultation with the Organization of
American Historians, the American Studies As-
sociation, the American Historical Associations,
the Women’s Studies Association, the American
Association of Museums, and other interested
academic or professional organizations; and
(B) at least 2 of whom shall be appointed
on the basis of their expertise in financial mat-
ters.
(d) TIMELINE.—Members of the Advisory Committee
shall be appointed not later than 30 days after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(e) LIMITATION.—Effective 30 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding subsections
(a) through (d), the failure of an appointing authority to
appoint a member under subsection (b), or under para-
graph (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (c), shall not affect
the ability of the Advisory Committee to meet and carry
out the functions of the Committee under this Act.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) STUDY.—The Advisory Committee shall conduct
a thorough study of all matters relating to—