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CIVIC HERALD
HR 1329 · 119th Congress · HouseOther

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

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.

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

Provisionalunreviewed: impact, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affectednot determinable from the text provided (applies directly to the Smithsonian Institution, federal planning agencies, and museum administration)
Fiscal magnitudeno CBO estimate published
Reach25provisional · pending reviewrigor: 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.

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.

  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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Timeline

How it moved.

  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. Apr 23, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 119-621, Part I.
  9. Mar 18, 2026Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 7 - 4.
  10. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in House
  11. Feb 13, 2025Introduced in House

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 18 days ago

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