On July 31, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources held ahearing on several bills, including the National Women’s History Museum Commission Act (S. 398).
Sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the legislation would establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women’s History Museum. The commission would be tasked with reporting to the president and Congress within 18 months following enactment of the bill on the overall costs of the museum, potential locations, its impact on similar regional museums, whether it should be part of the Smithsonian, and the best practices for engaging women in its design and development, among other issues.
While noting the National Park Service’s (NPS) support of S. 398,Dr. Stephanie Toothman, associate director, Cultural Resources, Partnership, and Science, NPS, explained that the bill directs the commission to consider several locations, including land “bounded by Independence Avenue, SW, 14th Street, SW, 15th Street, SW, and Jefferson Drive, SW, in Washington, DC.” She added that this particular site is within a reserve defined by the Commemorative Works Act (CWA) (P.L. 99-652) as a ‘substantially completed work of civic art,’ where no new memorials may be located.” As such, she urged the committee to amend S. 398 so that the commission’s efforts to find a location for the museum do not contravene the CWA.
