HR 863 - 3.25.14

Statement for the Record

U.S. Department of the Interior

before the

House Committee on Natural Resources

Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation

Concerning H.R. 863
To establish the commission to study the potential creation of a National Women's History Museum

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before your committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R. 863, to establish the commission to study the potential creation of a National Women's History Museum, and for other purposes.

The Department does not oppose H.R. 863, but recommends an amendment discussed below.

H.R. 863 would establish a Commission to study and report on the potential creation of a national women's history museum. H.R. 863 directs the Commission to submit to the President and Congress a report containing recommendations on the availability and cost of collections to be acquired and housed in the museum, the impact the museum may have on regional women's history-related museums, possible locations within Washington, D.C., or its environs, whether the museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, the governance and organizational structure from which the museum should operate, how to engage women in the development and design of a museum, and the cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining the museum.

The Commission, consisting of eight members appointed by the congressional leadership, would convene a national conference on the museum no later than eighteen months after its appointment and submit recommendations for a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a museum no later than eighteen months after its first meeting.

Section 4(a)(2)(C) of H.R. 863 directs the Commission to recommend potential locations, including the location on land bounded by Independence Avenue SW., 14th Street SW., 15th Street SW., and Jefferson Drive SW., in Washington, D.C.This area has several constraints.First, it is located on the Washington Monument grounds, an area treasured for its open space and natural setting.Second, the museum's development potential will likely be significantly constrained by the area's size and configuration.Third, this location is also within the Reserve as defined by the Commemorative Works Act (CWA), 40 U.S. Code, Section 89 (Section 8902(a)(3)).In the 2003 Amendments to the CWA, Congress declared the Reserve a "substantially completed work of civic art," where no new memorials may be located.The Reserve continues to protect the National Mall's historic open space character enjoyed by millions of Americans and visitors. Fourth, Section 8905(b)(5) of the CWA provides that memorials that are primarily museums are not to be placed even in Area I and parts of Area II on lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.Finally, museum development on this site is also precluded in the 2001 Memorials and Museums Master Plan (Chapter 3, page 32), which continues to guide the location of new memorials, museums, and related structures in the Nation's capital.This plan was the result of a multi-year effort by the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the National Park Service.We recommend amending the bill by deleting this specific location as a potential site for the museum.There are a number of sites within the monumental core that are worthy of consideration for a museum of this importance, as identified in the Monumental Core Framework Plan which notes preferred sites for new museums.

We support, in concept, the proposal to further the education and interpretation of significant segments of American history and culture.However, we feel strongly that this Commission move forward in a way that does not contravene the CWA.

We appreciate the opportunity to testify on H.R. 863.We would like the opportunity to work with the subcommittee to address our proposed amendment, and we urge the subcommittee to consult with other relevant agencies as the bill moves forward.