A complete substitute amendment. v2 fundamentally restructures the bill by designating a specific site for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall, replacing the general authorization in v1. Additionally, v2 introduces a new mission scope defining "women" as "biological women" and prohibiting the depiction of biological males as females, alongside detailed building requirements and an updated diversity mandate.
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
- Committees
- Committee on House Administration (primary)
- Last action
- May 21, 2026
Bottom line
This bill facilitates the siting of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall while imposing specific definitional and curatorial requirements regarding the scope of "women's history" and the representation of political viewpoints.
What it actually does
H.R. 1329 amends the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, to permit the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall, specifically designating the South Monument site. It also establishes a mission scope for the museum, explicitly defining its focus on "biological women" and prohibiting the depiction of biological males as females. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the museum's exhibits and programs reflect an equal representation of diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women in the United States.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill ensures the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum receives a prominent and accessible location on the National Mall, befitting its national importance. They contend that the explicit focus on "biological women" provides clarity and addresses concerns about the museum's core mission, while the mandate for diverse political viewpoints ensures a balanced and comprehensive historical narrative, preventing any single ideology from dominating the museum's interpretation of women's history.
Opponents contend
Opponents contend that the bill's explicit definition of "biological women" is exclusionary and discriminatory, effectively erasing the experiences of transgender women from the museum's scope. They also argue that mandating "equal representation of political viewpoints" in historical exhibits could lead to the politicization of curatorial decisions, potentially compromising academic integrity and historical accuracy by creating false equivalencies or giving undue weight to fringe perspectives.
The bill is concise and clearly structured, making it accessible for an informed reader to understand its core changes and implications within a short timeframe.
Section 2(a) and (b)
National Mall Siting and Site Designation
This provision amends existing law to remove the prohibition on locating the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum within the Reserve of the National Mall. It then specifically designates the "South Monument site" (bordered by 14th Street SW, Jefferson Drive SW, Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, and Independence Avenue SW) as the primary location for the museum. The President retains the authority to designate an alternative site within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that locating the museum on the National Mall is essential for its national prominence and accessibility, ensuring it stands alongside other significant national institutions. They believe the designated site is appropriate and allows for a fitting tribute to women's history.
Critics contend
Critics of placing new structures on the National Mall often raise concerns about preserving its open space and monumental core. While not specific to this bill, arguments against new construction typically focus on maintaining the Mall's original design intent and preventing overcrowding.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the desire for a prominent location for the museum with the ongoing debate about preserving the open character and historical integrity of the National Mall's monumental core.
Section 2(c)
Building Requirements and Reimbursement of Expenses
This section updates the process for planning, designing, and constructing the museum building. It requires the Smithsonian Board of Regents to consult with relevant federal agencies and commissions, and obtain approval from the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, and National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. It also adds a new requirement that the Smithsonian Institution must reimburse any federal agency for costs incurred during the approval process within 60 days.
Section 2(d)
Museum Mission Scope: "Biological Women" Definition
This section amends the museum's purpose by adding a new subsection (c) to Section 103 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. It explicitly states that the museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of "biological women in the United States." Furthermore, it includes a clear prohibition: "The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female."
Section 2(e)
Ensuring Diversity of Political Viewpoints and Authentic Experiences
This section amends the duties of the Museum Council to require that exhibits and programs reflect, "to the extent practicable, an equal representation of the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States." It mandates seeking guidance from a "broad array" of "knowledgeable and respected sources" for exhibit creation and revision. The provision defines "broad array" as a range of experts and publications representing diverse viewpoints, political ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences, and "knowledgeable and respected source" as an individual whose expertise has been relied upon by a notable segment of a community.
This subsection defines the terms "broad array" and "knowledgeable and respected source" which are critical for interpreting the mandate to ensure diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences in the museum's exhibits and programs.
Section 2(e)(C)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to place definitions in a dedicated subsection. However, the specific wording of these definitions can be highly consequential for how the museum's content is shaped.
Case for: Proponents argue that these definitions provide necessary guidance to the Museum Council, ensuring that the mandate for diverse viewpoints is implemented thoughtfully and draws from credible, community-recognized sources, rather than being left to arbitrary interpretation.
Case against: Critics might argue that even with definitions, terms like "equal representation" and "notable segment of that community" remain subjective and open to political interpretation, potentially leading to disputes over which sources and viewpoints are deemed sufficiently "knowledgeable and respected" or representative.
Estimated impact: The definitions will directly influence the selection of historical narratives, experts consulted, and the overall thematic balance of the museum's exhibits, affecting its long-term educational and cultural impact.