Collins, Feinstein Call for Inclusion of Legislation to Establish Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum in Year-End Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent a letter calling on Senate and House leadership to include bipartisan legislation to establish a Smithsonian museum honoring American women in the year-end omnibus appropriations package. Senators Collins and Feinstein introduced The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act last year.  Cosponsors of companion legislation in the House, Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), also signed the letter.

Additionally, the letter calls for the inclusion of legislation to create a National Museum of the American Latino in the year-end omnibus spending package.  It was also signed by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and Representatives Jose Serrano (D-NY) and Will Hurd (R-TX), lead sponsors of the National Museum of the American Latino Act.

“With near universal support from Congress, as well as the public at large, The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act and the National Museum of the American Latino Act would establish museums under the storied umbrella of the Smithsonian Institution. Each museum within the Smithsonian tells a unique part of the collective history of America, but there are still so many parts left to be told,” the lawmakers wrote.  “We thank you for your careful consideration of this urgent request and understand the delicate nature of on-going negotiations. However, we believe this represents our last best hope in seeing these museums become a reality for millions of Americans who lack historical and cultural representation within the Smithsonian.”

Click HERE to read the full letter.

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