House votes on bill for women’s history museum site

The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on legislation that would authorize a site on the National Mall for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. The bill has 231 co-sponsors, including 127 Democrats. Republicans amended the measure to specify that the president may designate an alternative site within 180 days of passage.

The revised bill also gives the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents authority to plan, design, and construct the museum, subject to approval by architectural planning boards.

The boards would also review other architectural projects.

Democratic support for the bill has declined since the changes were introduced. The Democratic Women’s Caucus announced opposition to the revised bill on Monday. Caucus members cited the president’s expanded authority over the site and design, as well as language limiting the museum to biological women.

Partisan Reactions Rep.

Malliotakis said the clarification that the museum would exhibit biological women only should not prompt withdrawal of support. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández said the changes reflected an emphasis on certain cultural issues. House Speaker Johnson said Republicans would not accept what he described as radical positions within the opposing party.

Earlier bipartisan support had included public statements from members of both parties. An NBC News event last month featured remarks from Rep. Dingell and advocate Lynda Carter on the museum effort.