News

The National Women's History Museum (NWHM) is delighted to announce that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed our legislation to form a Congressional Commission on the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum in Washington, DC. The bipartisan legislation (H.R. 863) co-sponsored by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) passed by a vote of 383 to 33 and now heads to the Senate where Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) are leading the charge.

We are delighted with the results of today's vote! Women represent 51% of our nation's population, but account for only 1 in 10 figures represented in U.S. history textbooks and only 15 of the more than 200 statues in the Capitol. Clearly, Americans only know half of our history. A national women's history museum will ensure the contributions American women have made to this great nation will become a part of our national narrative.

Furthermore, we are forever indebted to Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Marsha Blackburn. Their commitment, courage and tireless efforts in support of a national women's history museum have been extraordinary, as is evidenced by today's successful vote. Their partnership on this effort demonstrates what has been true since this nation was founded - women get things done! And, we get it done, despite our differences, by working together.

Here's what Representatives Maloney and Blackburn had to say about the Bill's passage...

"A National Women's History Museum has a rightful place in our Nation's capital," said Representative Carolyn Maloney. "This bill will establish a Congressional Commission to help secure that place. Women gained the right to vote in 1920. I hope that a century later, in 2020, their efforts and accomplishments of women throughout our history will be chronicled in a museum that both our daughters and sons can learn from and enjoy. I am grateful for the leadership of Representative Blackburn and to the support of the many Republicans and Democrats who worked together to pass this bill."

"This legislation takes an important step in our effort to recognize the accomplishments of women who have contributed to freedom and the promise of opportunity which we Americans cherish," Blackburn said. "This museum is about bringing together women and remembering those visionaries who changed the course of American history. All this would be done through private donations, and not one dime of taxpayer money. It is only appropriate that during the same week we celebrate mothers around the country for their contributions to our families, that my colleagues in the House would come together in this bipartisan effort to honor our nation's most influential women."

Next Stop - The Senate!

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