Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act

This bill, titled the "Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act," primarily authorizes the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall . This provision explicitly overrides existing laws and regulations that would otherwise prohibit such a location. It also includes a conforming amendment to a previous act related to the museum's establishment. Furthermore, the legislation amends existing law to establish a clear process for designating a museum site under the jurisdiction of another federal agency. This process involves notifying the agency head, who then must inform specific congressional committees before transferring administrative jurisdiction to the Smithsonian Institution. A significant amendment requires the museum's Council to ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent the varied cultures, histories, events, and values held by women in the United States. To achieve this, the Council must actively seek and utilize guidance from a broad array of knowledgeable and respected sources , reflecting diverse political viewpoints and authentic experiences of women, for both the creation and substantial revision of exhibits. The bill defines "broad array" as a range of experts and publications representing diverse communities and viewpoints, and "knowledgeable and respected source" as an individual with expertise relied upon by a notable segment of a community. Finally, the Secretary of the Smithsonian is mandated to submit biennial reports to Congress detailing compliance with these diversity and authentic experience requirements.