Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1300, I call up the bill (H.R. 1329) to permit the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Malliotakis, from New York.

This year, our Nation marks its 250th birthday. It has been 250 years since we declared independence. As we celebrate this milestone, I think it is all the more worthy that we pass this bill and begin construction of the museum dedicated to the history of American women.

Throughout our history, women have played a pivotal role in so many of our Nation's most celebrated achievements and innovations. In my home State of Wisconsin, three women participated in the famous 1854 meeting at the Ripon schoolhouse, where the Republican Party was born.

Mr. Speaker, I was proud to support previous legislation authorizing the creation of this museum. Today's bill takes the important next step by designating an exact location on The National Mall. Additionally, it creates guardrails to ensure this museum does not represent history in a partisan way.

I thank Representative Malliotakis for her work on this bill and her continued support to get this to the floor. She has been tenacious in a great way to get us to this spot. I thank her for her hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleague that Democratic leadership had the full opportunity in the 117th Congress to bring forward this legislation. They chose not to. They used their time to do things like rename the Cannon Caucus Room after the current Speaker in the 117th Congress. That is just a reminder of the importance that this bill has on our side.

Malliotakis) to speak on the bill.

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Mr. STEIL. Lee), also a member of the House Administration Committee, to speak on this bill.

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Mr. STEIL. De La Cruz) to speak on the bill.

Ms. De La CRUZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for working so hard to get this piece of legislation on the floor today.

I stand proudly to support H.R. 1329, the bipartisan Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, as an original cosponsor.

For 30 years, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have worked together to establish a space that carries on the legacy of the American women who fought tirelessly for our rights. It is absolutely unacceptable that any Member would oppose this bill because they want a biological male, a man, to be honored in the space designed for women, biological women.

Any vote that opposes this legislation undermines every woman who fought for our right to vote, our right to own a home, our right to attend college, and even our right to own our paychecks.

Ultimately, I represent a community that understands the difference between a man and a woman, a community that respects women, a community that will be proud that today and always they can count on me to stand up for biological women and stand up for common sense.

Common sense, let's think about that. Let's think about common sense, which obviously my colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not have and lost along the way.

Today, I will ``with pride''; ``con orgullo'' vote ``yes'' on this bill. I will vote ``yes'' on this legislation. I will vote ``yes'' for my ``grandmother''; ``abuelita,'' who is in Heaven smiling down, and ``for my mother''; ``para mi mama,'' who is watching right now on C- SPAN ``with pride''; ``con orgullo,'' watching her daughter speak on behalf of women here in America, to tell our story, to share our history, women's history.

I will vote ``yes'' for this legislation. I will vote ``yes'' for biological women. Today, I will vote ``yes'' for common sense.
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Mr. STEIL. Malliotakis), who is the author of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, as introduced by my colleague Representative Malliotakis from New York.

As we know, this year is the Nation's 250th anniversary, and we have an opportunity to place the Women's History Museum of the Smithsonian on The National Mall. The bill designates and takes an important step by designating the exact location of where that museum would be on The Mall and provides guardrails regarding the content of the museum.

Mr. Speaker, I thank, again, my colleague Representative Malliotakis for her hard work on this issue. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

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