Introduction of the National Children's Museum Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to introduce the National Children's Museum Act, which would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Children's Museum (NCM), a congressionally designated museum, to allow the museum to remain in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, a federally owned building in the nation's capital, without charge for the duration of its existing lease. The National Building Museum operates under such an agreement. Last Congress, on November 17, 2020, the House passed this bill by voice vote.

This bill would allow the NCM, the nation's first combination children's museum and science center, to remain centrally located in the nation's capital for the benefit of the millions who visit and live in the District and the national capital region (NCR). Originally named the Capital Children's Museum, the NCM was a staple in D.C. for decades. The institution opened in 1974 in a former convent on H Street Northeast.

In 2003, Congress recognized the immense value in having a children's museum in D.C. and officially designated the museum as the NCM. Now, the museum is bringing new and innovative science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) exhibits to the nation's capital, building on more than 30 years of educating D.C. children and families. Despite the many benefits it brings to the nation's capital, the NCM is an outlier. It is the only congressionally designated museum expected to pay rent in a federal building.

Importantly, this bill would relieve concerns about the ability of the NCM to survive the coronavirus pandemic. When the museum reopened last year in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, it immediately attracted many visitors from throughout the NCR and the nation, but was forced by the coronavirus pandemic to close 18 days later. At this time, the museum remains closed until further notice. Still, the museum has continued to offer valuable STEAM resources to our children as they navigate these new challenging learning circumstances, including over 75 at-home experiment and project video programs, monthly podcasts, virtual field trips and a Climate Action Heroes Digital Exhibit, among other resources.

This bill would allow the NCM to remain centrally located in the nation's capital for the benefit of the millions who visit and live in the District and the NCR.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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