Bill

H.R. 1329 (119th): Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act This bill authorizes the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located on a particular site within the Reserve of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Specifically, the bill designates the South Monument site as the location for the museum; however, the President may designate an alternative site within 180 days of the bill's enactment. (The site is the undeveloped land across the National Mall from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.) Administrative jurisdiction of the site must be transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution must have the approval of specified federal entities (e.g., the Commission of Fine Arts) to plan, design, and construct a museum building. The bill (1) outlines the criteria for considering site and design proposals, and (2) requires the Smithsonian Institution to reimburse for costs resulting from the building approval process. The bill directs the museum to be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States. Under this bill, the museum may not identify, present, describe, or depict any biological male as a female. In carrying out its duties, the museum's advisory council must (1) seek and utilize 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 (2) seek guidance for the creation and substantial revision of exhibits and programs.

house · Substantive

Rankings updated October 26, 2026, 11:44 AM ET · Votes through September 30, 2026
Exported candidates: 719 | Filings on file, by office: H: 5838 | P: 1467 | S: 1567. These counts include every filing for that office, so they are larger than the ranked list. One person can have more than one filing. Non-voting delegates are left out.

Recorded summary

The bill authorizes the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the South Monument site in the Reserve of the National Mall, with the President able to designate an alternative site within 180 days of enactment. It transfers administrative jurisdiction of the site to the Smithsonian Institution, requires specified federal approvals before the museum building is planned, designed, and constructed, and requires the Smithsonian to reimburse certain costs from the approval process. It dedicates the museum to the history and lived experiences of biological women in the United States, bars the museum from identifying, presenting, or depicting any biological male as a female, and directs its advisory council to seek diverse political and experiential guidance on exhibits and programs.

cultural_institutioncultural_recognitioneducationnational_mall_sitesex_based_categoriessmithsonianwomen_history

Theological note: The measure touches on the stewardship of public institutions and whether a national museum should honor the created distinction between male and female in its historical presentation. Its core site and construction provisions are prudential governance matters, while the content restriction raises questions about truthful presentation, the integrity of government speech, and whether viewpoint limits on a cultural institution are just.

How this bill is scored

Recorded votes

Roll 187 · 21-May-2026 5:01 PM · On Motion to Recommit · Failed

Yea 209 · Nay 209 · Other 12

Yea

Nay

Other

Roll 188 · 21-May-2026 5:59 PM · On Passage · Failed

Yea 204 · Nay 216 · Other 10

Yea

Nay

Other

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