[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1303 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1303
To permit the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located
within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 3, 2025
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Ms. Lummis, Ms. Cortez Masto, and Mr.
Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To permit the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located
within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Smithsonian American Women's History
Museum Act''.
SEC. 2. SITE OF SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN WOMEN'S HISTORY MUSEUM.
(a) Authorizing Site Within Reserve of National Mall.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law
or regulation, including section 8908(c) of title 40, United
States Code, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
may be located within the Reserve (as defined in section
8902(a) of title 40, United States Code).
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 107(d) of division T of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(d))
is amended by striking ``, except that'' and all that follows
and inserting a period.
(b) Use of Site Under the Jurisdiction of Another Federal Agency.--
Section 107(b) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(b) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) Site Under the Jurisdiction of Another Federal Agency.--
``(1) Notification to other agency or entity.--The Board of
Regents shall not designate a site for the Museum that is under
the administrative jurisdiction of another Federal agency or
entity without first notifying the head of the Federal agency
or entity.
``(2) Notification to committees.--Once notified under
paragraph (1), the head of the Federal agency or entity shall
promptly submit written notification to the Chair and ranking
minority members of the Committee on Rules and Administration,
the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on House
Administration, the Committee on Natural Resources, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives,
stating that the Federal agency or entity was notified by the
Board of Regents that a site under its jurisdiction was
designated and that a transfer will be initiated as soon as
practicable.
``(3) Transfer.--As soon as practicable after the date on
which the individuals described in paragraph (2) receive the
written notification described in such subparagraph, the head
of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the
Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over
the land or structure that has been designated as the site for
the Museum.''.
(c) Ensuring Diversity of Political Viewpoints and Authentic
Experiences.--Section 104(b)(4) of division T of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-2(b)(4) is amended to read as
follows:
``(4) Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and
authentic experiences.--
``(A) In general.--The Council shall ensure that
the exhibits and programs of the Museum accurately and
comprehensively represent the varied cultures,
histories, events, and values held by women in the
United States.
``(B) Specific requirements.--In carrying out its
duties, the Council shall ensure that it seeks and
utilizes to its maximum ability guidance from a broad
array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting
the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic
experiences held by women in the United States, and
shall seek such guidance for both the creation and
substantial revision of exhibits and programs.
``(C) Definitions.--In this subparagraph--
``(i) the term `broad array' means a range
of experts and publications that represent the
broad spectrum of communities of women, to
include varied viewpoints, political
ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences in
the United States; and
``(ii) the term `knowledgeable and
respected source' means an individual who has
gained through education, publication, or
witnessing an important or historical event,
the ability to advise on at least one unique
viewpoint or experience of a particular
community of women in the United States, and
whose knowledge has been relied upon by a
notable segment of that community for
education, heritage preservation, or historical
purposes, and includes the work of such an
individual which reflects such ability and
knowledge.''.
(d) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of
the Smithsonian shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the
House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of
the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate,
a report on actions taken by the Director of the Smithsonian American
Women's History Museum and the Council of the Museum to comply with the
requirements of the amendments made by subsection (c), including a
description of actions taken with respect to substantial revisions of
current exhibits and programs as well the planning of future exhibits
and programs.
(e) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of title I of
division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t
et seq.).
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