Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the creation of a Smithsonian museum dedicated to the history of American women. I thank Chairman Steil and Representative Malliotakis for their leadership in this important effort.

Before coming to Congress, I had the privilege of serving as Florida's Secretary of State. In that role, I oversaw our State's museums, archives, and historical resources, and I gained a deep appreciation for the importance of preserving our history carefully and telling it well.

Museums are not simply collections of artifacts. They are places where we remember who we are, where we came from, and the values that shaped this Nation. The story of America cannot be fully told without the story of American women.

From the earliest days of our country, women have helped to build families, communities, and institutions. They served in times of war, advanced science and medicine, strengthened our economy, and helped expand the promise of liberty for future generations.

Today, women serve in leadership roles across every aspect of American life, but much of that progress in America is relatively recent. As someone who has spent much of my career in fields historically dominated by men, I know personally how meaningful it is when young women can see the stories of those who came before them.

As an example, since the founding of our Nation, roughly 12,000 Americans have served in the United States Congress. Yet, only about 450 of them have been women. Hearing and sharing the stories of those women will no doubt pave the path for the talented generation to come of women leaders in America.

Representation matters, and so does remembrance. The stories we preserve shape what the next generation believes is possible. This museum will tell the story of countless women, teachers, entrepreneurs, scientists, soldiers, mothers, and public servants whose perseverance and courage helped shape this Nation.

It is disappointing that some Democrats are opposing this museum because it is dedicated to the history and achievements of biological women when we should be coming together to honor the women who helped shape this Nation.

As the mother of a daughter, I think often about the examples that she sees and the stories that she learns about the women who helped shape this country. May she know us, may she and all of the other young women like her see what is possible, and may they go further than we ever dreamed.

When young girls walk through the Smithsonian and see the contributions of women woven into the fabric of our national history, they will understand something important: that they, too, are foundational to the American story.

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when all Americans can visit a museum that honors the remarkable legacy of women in the United States. For these reasons, I support this effort, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

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