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CIVIC HERALD
HR 1329 · 119th Congress · HouseOther

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

In plain language: This bill designates land on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, while giving the President 180 days to choose an alternative site. It specifies that the museum must focus solely on the history and achievements of biological women, explicitly prohibiting exhibits from presenting biological males as females. It also requires the museum to provide balanced representation of different political viewpoints and backgrounds among American women.

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Provisionalunreviewed: impact, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—not determinable from the text provided (applies directly to the Smithsonian Institution, federal planning agencies, and museum administration)
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach
provisional · pending review25rigor: heuristic llm
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Issues

What this bill touches.

LGBTQ+ policy−35Public arts funding+35

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Provisional: our reading of who it affects, pending review.

Who it helps

  • Smithsonian InstitutionReceives administrative jurisdiction over the South Monument site on the National Mall to plan, design, and construct the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum (Sec. 2(b), Sec. 2(c)(1), Sec. 2(c)(2)).provisional
  • Biological womenThe museum is statutorily dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting their history, achievements, and lived experiences (Sec. 2(d)(c)(1)).provisional

Who it burdens

  • Smithsonian InstitutionMust adhere to specific content restrictions, ensure equal representation of diverse political viewpoints in exhibits, and submit biennial compliance reports to multiple congressional committees (Sec. 2(d), Sec. 2(e), Sec. 2(f)).provisional
  • Federal agency holding jurisdiction over the designated siteMust transfer administrative jurisdiction over the designated National Mall land to the Smithsonian Institution (Sec. 2(c)(1)).provisional

Who backs it

  • Smithsonian InstitutionRequired to reimburse federal agencies within 60 days for all costs incurred while implementing recommendations from the museum approval process (Sec. 2(c)(3)).provisional

Who opposes it

  • Transgender womenThe museum is expressly prohibited from identifying, presenting, describing, or depicting any biological male as female in its exhibits and programs (Sec. 2(d)(c)(2)).provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

Provisional: our reading of what the bill does, pending review.

Show all 7 provisions

  1. Designates the South Monument site on the National Mall as the location for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, while permitting the President to select an alternative site within 180 days.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  2. Limits the museum's purpose to presenting the history, achievements, and experiences of biological women, and prohibits the museum from depicting or describing any biological male as a female.

    Sec. 2(d)provisional

  3. Requires the museum council to ensure exhibits and programs give equal representation to diverse political viewpoints and backgrounds by seeking guidance from a broad range of experts and community sources.

    Sec. 2(e)provisional

  4. Directs the federal agency currently overseeing the designated site to transfer administrative control of the land to the Smithsonian Institution.

    Sec. 2(c)(1)provisional

  5. Authorizes the Smithsonian Board of Regents to plan and construct the museum building subject to environmental, landscape, and durability criteria and approval from designated federal planning and arts commissions.

    Sec. 2(c)(2)provisional

  6. Requires the Smithsonian Institution to reimburse federal agencies within 60 days for any costs incurred while implementing recommendations from the museum approval process.

    Sec. 2(c)(3)provisional

  7. Requires the Secretary of the Smithsonian to submit biennial reports to Congress on steps taken to comply with exhibit content and viewpoint diversity requirements.

    Sec. 2(f)provisional

  1. Designates the South Monument site on the National Mall as the location for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, while permitting the President to select an alternative site within 180 days.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  2. Limits the museum's purpose to presenting the history, achievements, and experiences of biological women, and prohibits the museum from depicting or describing any biological male as a female.

    Sec. 2(d)provisional

  3. Requires the museum council to ensure exhibits and programs give equal representation to diverse political viewpoints and backgrounds by seeking guidance from a broad range of experts and community sources.

    Sec. 2(e)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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The record

How members voted on Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act.

Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.

  • House · May 21, 2026 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Passage · Failed

    Source →

  • House · May 21, 2026 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Motion to Recommit · Failed

    Source →

Timeline

How it moved.

Show all 24 actions
  1. May 21, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  2. May 21, 2026On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 216 (Roll no. 188).
  3. May 21, 2026Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 216 (Roll no. 188).
  4. May 21, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 209 (Roll no. 187).
  5. May 21, 2026The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
  6. May 21, 2026Ms. Randall moved to recommit to the Committee on House Administration. (CR H3692)
  7. May 21, 2026Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3707-3710)
  8. May 21, 2026Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the House resumed consideration of H.R. 1329.
  9. May 21, 2026POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 1329 is postponed.
  10. May 21, 2026The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  11. May 21, 2026DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1329.
  12. May 21, 2026Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047 and H.R. 1329. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047, and H.R. 1329 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  13. May 21, 2026Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1300. (consideration: CR H3692-3699; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3692-3693)
  14. May 20, 2026Rule H. Res. 1300 passed House.
  15. May 19, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1300 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047 and H.R. 1329. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047, and H.R. 1329 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  16. Apr 23, 2026Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 538.
  17. Apr 23, 2026Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
  18. Apr 23, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 119-621, Part I.
  19. Mar 18, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 7 - 4.
  20. Mar 18, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  21. Feb 10, 2026Subcommittee Hearings Held
  22. Feb 3, 2026Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
  23. Feb 13, 2025Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  24. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in House
  1. May 21, 2026Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  2. May 21, 2026On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 216 (Roll no. 188).
  3. May 21, 2026Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 204 - 216 (Roll no. 188).
  4. May 21, 2026On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 209 (Roll no. 187).
  5. May 20, 2026Rule H. Res. 1300 passed House.
  6. May 19, 2026Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1300 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047 and H.R. 1329. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1041, H.R. 6047, and H.R. 1329 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  7. Apr 23, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 119-621, Part I.
  8. Mar 18, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 7 - 4.
  9. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in House

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Read the original text →

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 3 months ago

Cite this page

Civic Herald. “Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act (H.R. 1329, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-1329. Congress.gov record as of Jul 23, 2026.

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