The National Women's History Museum Seeks a Home

The National Women's History Museum, founded during Bill Clinton's administration, is once again trying to get legislation passed so that it can at last have a physical home on the National Mall, as recommended to the President in 1998. I received this memo from the President of the Museum, Joan Wages. Please write and/or call your Legislator and urge them to support this unique institution that will honor and celebrate the history and legacy of women in America, including Senator Hillary Clinton.

Due to a sequence of events, a lot at 12th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW in Washington, DC became available in June 2008. This lot -- one block West of Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building and across the street – borders the National Mall. NWHM moved quickly to get legislation introduced directing the General Services Administration (GSA) to sell the lot to NWHM.
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the bill, HR 6548. Original cosponsors are Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).
Urge your representatives to co-sponsor HR 6548 and vote for passage of this legislation providing a permanent home for the National Women's History Museum.

It is estimated that the lot will allow for a 300,000 sq. ft. building which is twice the size of the Arts and Industries Building and three times larger than the Old Post Office Annex – two sites that NWHM has previously tried to secure. New construction is much cheaper than renovating an old building so this much larger space will come at half to three-quarters the costs of renovating AIB.
Not only will the design reflect the NWHM mission but the building can be "green" to conserve energy. This will help reduce operating costs.

Provisions of the Legislation:
The National Health Museum previously had legislation introduced in the House and Senate providing them the 12th Street and Independence Avenue lot. The bill passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in the 109th Congress and had 29 co-sponsors on the companion House bill. Political obstacles prevented it from moving forward.

The Health Museum announced in early June 2008 that it was moving to Atlanta, GA.

The Health Museum legislation is being introduced with only a change in name so that NWHM could purchase the property.

The bill provides that NWHM will pay fair market value for the property as determined by an appraiser.

The property consists of northern and southern portions – the northern portion (on Independence Avenue) will be dedicated and conveyed to the Museum for 99 years. Conveyance of the southern portion will be subject to negotiations with the General Services Administration.

One or both portions of the property must be conveyed within three years and construction on the Museum must begin within five years.

Time is of the essence since Congress will leave in early October.
Please help NWHM get this legislation passed!