Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

This Act may be cited as the “Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act”.

(a) Authorizing site within Reserve of National Mall.— Section 107(d) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(d)) is amended by striking “, except that” and all that follows and inserting a period.

(b) Site designation.— Section 107(a) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(a)) is amended to read as follows:

“(a) In general.— The site for the Museum is hereby designated as the South Monument site, located on the National Mall, bordered by 14th Street Southwest, Jefferson Drive Southwest, Raoul Wallenberg Place Southwest, and Independence Avenue Southwest, except that the President may designate an alternative site for the Museum within 180 days of the date of the enactment of this subsection.”.

(c) Use of site.—

(1) Transfer.— Section 107(b) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(b)) is amended to read as follows:

“(b) Transfer of site.— As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the head of the Federal agency or entity shall transfer to the Smithsonian Institution its administrative jurisdiction over the land described in subsection (a).”.

(2) Building requirements.— Section 107(c) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5(c)) is amended to read as follows:

“(c) Building.—

(1) In general.— The Board of Regents, in consultation with the head of the Federal agency or entity and the council established under section 104 and with the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Commission, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the head of the Federal agency or entity, may plan, design, and construct a building for the Museum, which shall be located at the site described in subsection (a).

(2) Criteria.— In considering site and design proposals, the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, and the head of the Federal agency or entity shall be guided by, but not limited to the following criteria:

(A) The Museum shall be located so that to the maximum extent practicable, it protects the open space, existing public use, and cultural and natural resources.

(B) The Museum shall be constructed of durable material suitable to the outdoor environment.

(C) Landscape features of the Museum shall be compatible with the climate.

(D) The National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts may develop such criteria or guidelines specific to each site that are mutually agreed upon to ensure that the design of the Museum carries out the purposes of this section.”.

(3) Expenses.— Section 107 of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-5) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(f) Expenses.— The Smithsonian Institution shall reimburse within 60 days any and all costs incurred by the head of the Federal agency or entity for implementation of any recommendations resulting from the approval process described in subsection (c).”.

(d) Museum purpose.— Section 103 of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-1) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Scope of Mission.—

(1) In general.— The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.

(2) Prohibition.— The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female.”.

(e) Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences.— Section 104(b)(4) of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t-2(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:

“(4) Ensuring diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences.—

(A) In general.— The Council shall ensure that the exhibits and programs of the Museum reflect, to the extent practicable, an equal representation of the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States, accurately and comprehensively representing the varied cultures, histories, events, and values held by such women.

(B) Specific requirements.— In carrying out its duties, the Council shall ensure that it seeks and utilizes to its maximum ability guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources reflecting the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States, and shall seek such guidance for both the creation and substantial revision of exhibits and programs.

(C) Definitions.— In this paragraph—

(i) the term broad array means a range of experts and publications that represent the broad spectrum of communities of women, to include varied viewpoints, political ideologies, cultures, and lived experiences in the United States; and

(ii) the term knowledgeable and respected source means an individual who has gained through education, publication, or witnessing an important or historical event, the ability to advise on at least one unique viewpoint or experience of a particular community of women in the United States, and whose knowledge has been relied upon by a notable segment of that community for education, heritage preservation, or historical purposes, and includes the work of such an individual which reflects such ability and knowledge.”.

(f) Reports to Congress.— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of the Smithsonian shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report on actions taken by the Director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the Council of the Museum to comply with the requirements of the amendments made by subsection (f), including a description of actions taken with respect to substantial revisions of current exhibits and programs as well the planning of future exhibits and programs.

(g) Effective date.— This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of title I of division T of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (20 U.S.C. 80t et seq.).