Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act amends the 2021 museum authorization to designate the South Monument site on the National Mall, bordered by 14th Street SW, Jefferson Drive SW, Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, and Independence Avenue SW, as the museum site. The President may designate an alternative site within 180 days. The head of the federal agency or entity controlling the land must transfer administrative jurisdiction to the Smithsonian as soon as practicable. The Smithsonian Board of Regents may plan, design, and construct the museum building in consultation with the landholding agency and the museum council, with approvals from the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the landholding agency.
Who Benefits and How
The Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Board of Regents, American Women's History Museum Council, museum visitors, women's history scholars, educators, students, tourists on the National Mall, and advocates for a national women's history museum benefit from a specific site and construction pathway. Site designation moves the museum from concept toward land transfer, design review, and construction planning.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Smithsonian Institution, the federal landholding agency, Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, National Park Service or other site managers, design teams, construction planners, and federal cost-accounting staff must manage land transfer, design criteria, open-space protection, cultural and natural resource review, climate-compatible landscape features, approvals, and reimbursement of agency costs within 60 days.
Key Provisions
- Designates the South Monument site on the National Mall as the museum site while allowing the President to select an alternative site within 180 days.
- Requires the federal agency or entity with administrative jurisdiction over the site to transfer it to the Smithsonian Institution.
- Authorizes the Smithsonian Board of Regents to plan, design, and construct the museum building at the designated site.
- Requires consultation and approval by the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the landholding agency.
- Requires site and design review to consider open space, public use, cultural resources, natural resources, durable materials, and climate-compatible landscape features.
- Requires the Smithsonian to reimburse federal agency costs incurred from the approval process.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Designates the South Monument site on the National Mall for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, allows a presidential alternative site within 180 days, requires administrative jurisdiction transfer to the Smithsonian, and authorizes planning, design, and construction with federal review approvals.
Key Policy Areas
Museums, Smithsonian, National Mall, Federal Property
Primary Purpose
Designates the South Monument site on the National Mall for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, allows a presidential alternative site within 180 days, requires administrative jurisdiction transfer to the Smithsonian, and authorizes planning, design, and construction with federal review approvals.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Smithsonian Institution
- Smithsonian Board of Regents
- American Women's History Museum Council
- Museum visitors
- Women's history scholars
- Educators
- Students
Identified Costs
- Smithsonian Institution
- Federal landholding agency
- Commission of Fine Arts
- National Capital Planning Commission
- National Park Service
- Design teams
- Federal cost-accounting staff
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
Passed HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without …
On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - …
Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On passage Failed …
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: …
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered …
Ms. Randall moved to recommit to the Committee on House …
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3707-3710)
Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the House resumed …
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, …
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
American Women's History Museum Council, Smithsonian Board of Regents, Smithsonian Institution
Positive-direction: American Women's History Museum Council
Negative-direction: Smithsonian Board of Regents, Smithsonian Institution
Commission of Fine Arts, Federal landholding agency, National Capital Planning Commission
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "south_monument_site"
- → National Mall site bordered by 14th Street SW, Jefferson Drive SW, Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, and Independence Avenue SW.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology