Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

II Calendar No. 599 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 959 To establish in the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women’s history museum, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 28, 2019 Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. CAPITO, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. MCSALLY, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. FISCHER, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. WARREN, Mr. BROWN, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. WICKER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Ad- ministration DECEMBER 3, 2020 Reported by Mr. BLUNT, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 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- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Smithsonian American 4 Women’s History Museum Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 959 RS SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 1 Congress finds the following: 2 (1) Since its founding, the United States has 3 greatly benefitted from the contributions of women. 4 (2) Historical accounts, monuments, memorials, 5 and museums disproportionately represent men’s 6 achievements and contributions and often neglect 7 those of women. For example— 8 (A) a study of 18 United States history 9 textbooks concluded that 10 percent of the ma- 10 terial documented contributions of women; 11 (B) 9 statues out of 91 in the United 12 States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall depict 13 women; and 14 (C) only one of the 44 monuments oper- 15 ated by the National Park Service specifically 16 honors the achievements of women after the 17 2016 designation of the Belmont-Paul Women’s 18 Equality National Monument. 19 (3) There exists no national museum in the 20 United States that is devoted to the documentation 21 of women’s contributions throughout the Nation’s 22 history. 23 (4) On December 19, 2014, Congress created a 24 Congressional Commission to study the potential for 25 an American museum of women’s history. The bi- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 959 RS partisan Commission unanimously concluded that 1 the United States needs and deserves a physical na- 2 tional museum dedicated to showcasing the historical 3 experiences and impact of women in the United 4 States. 5 (5) A comprehensive women’s history museum 6 would document the full spectrum of the experiences 7 of women in the United States, represent a diverse 8 range of viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds, 9 more accurately depict the history of the United 10 States, and add value to the Smithsonian Institu- 11 tion. 12 (6) The collections, exhibits, historical narrative 13 materials, and museum programming of the wom- 14 en’s history museum should be inclusive, comprehen- 15 sive, and innovative. Such collections, exhibits, mate- 16 rials, and programming should present the diverse 17 range of experiences and viewpoints of all women in 18 the United States, reflecting upon the things that 19 set women apart from one another while also high- 20 lighting the experiences that many of these women 21 share. 22 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 23 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 24 the Smithsonian Institution a comprehensive women’s his- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •S 959 RS tory museum, to be named by the Board of Regents in 1 consultation with the council established under section 4 2 (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Museum’’). 3 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Museum estab- 4 lished under this section shall be to provide for— 5 (1) the collection and study of, and the estab- 6 lishment of programs relating to, women’s contribu- 7 tions to various fields and throughout different peri- 8 ods of history that have influenced the direction of 9 the United States; 10 (2) collaboration with other Smithsonian Insti- 11 tution museums and facilities, outside museums, and 12 educational institutions; and 13 (3) the creation of exhibitions and programs 14 that recognize diverse perspectives on women’s his- 15 tory and contributions. 16 SEC. 4. COUNCIL. 17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 18 the Smithsonian Institution a council to carry out the du- 19 ties set forth under subsection (b) and other provisions 20 of this Act (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Council’’). 21 (b) DUTIES.— 22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Council established 23 under this section shall— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •S 959 RS (A) make recommendations to the Board 1 of Regents concerning the planning, design, and 2 construction of the Museum; 3 (B) advise and assist the Board of Regents 4 on all matters relating to the administration, 5 operation, maintenance, and preservation of the 6 Museum; 7 (C) recommend annual operating budgets 8 for the Museum to the Board of Regents; 9 (D) report annually to the Board of Re- 10 gents on the acquisition, disposition, and dis- 11 play of objects relating to women’s art, history, 12 and culture; and 13 (E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the 14 Council. 15 (2) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Coun- 16 cil, subject to the general policies of the Board of 17 Regents, shall have sole authority to— 18 (A) purchase, accept, borrow, and other- 19 wise acquire artifacts for addition to the collec- 20 tions of the Museum; 21 (B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dis- 22 pose of any part of the collections of the Mu- 23 seum, but only if the funds generated by that 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •S 959 RS disposition are used for additions to the collec- 1 tions of the Museum; or 2 (C) specify criteria with respect to the use 3 of the collections and resources of the Museum, 4 including policies on programming, education, 5 exhibitions, and research with respect to— 6 (i) the life, art, history, and culture of 7 women; 8 (ii) the role of women in the history of 9 the United States; and 10 (iii) the contributions of women to so- 11 ciety. 12 (3) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Council, 13 subject to the general policies of the Board of Re- 14 gents, shall have authority— 15 (A) to provide for preservation, restoration, 16 and maintenance of the collections of the Mu- 17 seum; and 18 (B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of 19 gifts, bequests, and devises of personal property 20 for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the 21 work of the Museum. 22 (c) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •S 959 RS (1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be com- 1 posed of 25 voting members as provided under para- 2 graph (2). 3 (2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Council shall in- 4 clude the following voting members: 5 (A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In- 6 stitution. 7 (B) One member of the Board of Regents, 8 appointed by the Board of Regents. 9 (C) Twenty-three individuals appointed by 10 the Board or Regents. In appointing members 11 under this subparagraph, the Board of Regents 12 should give special consideration to appoint- 13 ing— 14 (i) members of the Congressional 15 Commission; 16 (ii) board members of the National 17 Women’s History Museum, a nonprofit, 18 educational organization described in sec- 19 tion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 20 Code of 1986 that was incorporated in 21 1996 in the District of Columbia and that 22 is dedicated for the purpose of establishing 23 a women’s history museum; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •S 959 RS (iii) scholars and representatives of 1 organizations that are committed to the 2 study of women’s history. 3 (3) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The Board of 4 Regents shall make initial appointments to the 5 Council under paragraph (2) not later than 180 6 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 7 (d) TERMS.— 8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 9 subsection, each appointed member of the Council 10 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. 11 (2) INITIAL APPOINTEES.—As designated by 12 the Board of Regents at the time of appointment, of 13 the voting members first appointed under subpara- 14 graph (C) of subsection (c)(2)— 15 (A) 8 members shall be appointed for a 16 term of 1 year; 17 (B) 8 members shall be appointed for a 18 term of 2 years; and 19 (C) 7 members shall be appointed for a 20 term of 3 years. 21 (3) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member of the Coun- 22 cil may be reappointed, except that no individual 23 may serve on the Council for a total of more than 24 2 terms. For purposes of this paragraph, the num- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 9 •S 959 RS ber of terms an individual serves on the Council 1 shall not include any portion of a term for which an 2 individual is appointed to fill a vacancy under para- 3 graph (4)(B). 4 (4) VACANCIES.— 5 (A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 6 Council— 7 (i) shall not affect the powers of the 8 Council; and 9 (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 10 as the original appointment was made. 11 (B) TERM.—Any member of the Council 12 appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the 13 expiration of the term for which the member’s 14 predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 15 for the remainder of that term. 16 (e) COMPENSATION.— 17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para- 18 graph (2), a member of the Council shall serve with- 19 out pay. 20 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the 21 Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including 22 per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 23 for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 24 chapter 57 of title 5, while away from the home or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 10 •S 959 RS regular place of business of the member in the per- 1 formance of the duties of the Council. 2 (f) CHAIRPERSON.—By a majority vote of its voting 3 members, the Council shall elect a chairperson from its 4 members. 5 (g) MEETINGS.— 6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall meet at 7 the call of the chairperson or on the written request 8 of a majority of the voting members of the Council, 9 but not fewer than twice each year. 10 (2) INITIAL MEETINGS.—During the 1-year pe- 11 riod beginning on the date of the first meeting of the 12 Council, the Council shall meet not fewer than 4 13 times for the purpose of carrying out the duties of 14 the Council under this Act. 15 (h) QUORUM.—A majority of the voting members of 16 the Council holding office shall constitute a quorum for 17 the purpose of conducting business, but a lesser number 18 may receive information on behalf of the Council. 19 SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE MUSEUM. 20 (a) DIRECTOR.— 21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Museum shall have a 22 Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary, 23 taking into consideration individuals recommended 24 by the council established under section 4. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 11 •S 959 RS (2) DUTIES.—The Director shall manage the 1 Museum subject to the policies of the Board of Re- 2 gents. 3 (b) STAFF.—The Secretary may appoint 2 additional 4 employees to serve under the Director, except that such 5 additional employees may be appointed without regard to 6 the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 7 appointments in the competitive service. 8 (c) PAY.—The employees appointed by the Secretary 9 under subsection (b) may be paid without regard to the 10 provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 11 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification 12 of positions and General Schedule pay rates. 13 SEC. 6. EDUCATIONAL AND LIAISON PROGRAMS. 14 (a) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Director of the 15 Museum may carry out educational and liaison programs 16 in support of the goals of the Museum. 17 (b) COLLABORATION WITH SCHOOLS.—In carrying 18 out this section, the Director shall carry out educational 19 programs in collaboration with elementary schools, sec- 20 ondary schools, and postsecondary schools. 21 SEC. 7. BUILDING. 22 (a) IN GENERAL.— 23 (1) LOCATION.— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 12 •S 959 RS (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 1 months after the date of the enactment of this 2 Act, the Board of Regents shall designate a site 3 for the Museum. 4 (B) SITES FOR CONSIDERATION.—In des- 5 ignating a site under subparagraph (A), the 6 Board of Regents shall select from among the 7 following sites in the District of Columbia: 8 (i) The site known as the ‘‘South 9 Monument site’’, located on the National 10 Mall and bordered by 14th Street North- 11 west, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Raoul 12 Wallenberg Place Southwest, and Inde- 13 pendence Ave Southwest. 14 (ii) The Northwest United States 15 Capitol site, bordered by 3rd Street North- 16 west, Constitution Avenue Northwest, 1st 17 Street Northwest, and Pennsylvania Ave 18 Northwest. 19 (iii) Any other appropriate location as 20 identified by the Board of Regents in con- 21 sultation with the council established under 22 section 4. 23 (C) AVAILABILITY OF SITE.— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:14 Dec 04, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6401 E:\BILLS\S959.RS S959 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 13 •S 959 RS (i) IN GENERAL.—The sites described 1 in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) 2 shall remain available until the date on 3 which the Board of Regents designates a 4 site for the Museum under subparagraph 5 (A). 6 (ii) TRANSFER TO SMITHSONIAN IN- 7 STITUTION.—If the site designated for the 8 Museum is in an area that is und [Text truncated for display. 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