Transcripts For CSPAN2 Senate Rules Committee Holds Hearing

The committee on rules and Administration Come to order. I thank my colleagues for attending todays hearing, some virtually, some in person, same for our witnesses, we are going to be welcoming them as well. The secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, miss jane abraham, former chairman of the Congressional Commission to study the potential for a National Womens History Museum. Miss cc rojas of the Latino Coalition and mister danny vargas, of the National Museum of the american latino. I want to thank all of them for joining us. We will hear from a number of senators who have spent time on this had been sponsors of this bill. Senator collins, senator cornyn, senator menendez joining us for remarks following the remarks of the three of us. This is secretary bunchs second appearance before the senate rules committee. We are grateful to have him with us today. He was appointed secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in june of 2019, what a first year you have had. Obviously covid19 forced closure of all 19 museums for the first time ever. It happened the middle of march of this year. That created an opportunity and requirement for secretary bunch and the staff of the smithsonian to even further turn to their substantial digital efforts launched smithsonian cares, with many online resources in addition to the smithsonian cares, smithsonian offers, learning lab, an online tool created specifically to work with teachers and students, Distance Learning. No shock the learning lab had a 500 increase from march of 2019, to march of 2020 and that increase only continued to grow, established in 1846 the smithsonian, now 170 years encompasses 19 museums and galleries, Numerous Research and educational facility, 159 million objects and specimens of various kinds. We are here to discuss whether congress should authorize edition of two new museums for vast portfolios specifically a Smithsonian Museum of womens history. And National Museum of the latino, we truly have an Expert Witness on the whole idea of new museums and expanding museums. Secretary bunch was the founder of the African American history and Culture Museum and led the entire 11 year process of planning and constructing the 400,000 squarefoot museum and story and other powerful stories to be told. That is what we are talking about, vibrant stories of american women and american latinos and how important we are. I just mentioned 11 years, that secretary bunch was so involved in. What we decide to do in todays critically important stories that need to be told in better and more substantial ways than they have been in the past during along period of time that we are talking about today assuming we set that goal. In 2021 the smithsonian is set to open a permanent 4500 squarefoot latino gallery named the molina gallery thanks to a 10 million gift from the molina family and the smithsonians Latino Center continues to be a showcase for that experience at the direction of the Congressional Commission on the study of the creation of a National Womens museum. Miss abraham is here to talk about that. The smithsonian launched its womens History Initiative in 2018. That raise 10 million for exhibition programs, educational materials and Digital Content across the smithsonian space. I look forward to hearing secretary bunchs update on this important work which we need to encourage and figure out how to tell the story. And and and we recognize federal senator feinstein and the 3 senators who joined us and been sponsors of this legislation. Glad we are holding this important hearing today. We have much to do including ndemic relief, during the depression, back to e 30s one of frankn roosevelts main problems, the wpa project, one is hanging in my office that i ve on loan for the minnesota museum. These museums willake years to build but i think now is a good time to get this arted and get this past. Im excited to hear from senator collins and feinstein whare heres well as senator menendez and senator cornyn. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of both of these bills, critical to expanding our understanding of remarkable contributions throughout the history of our country and the Smithsonian Institution was founded on the noble principle, to spread that widely. 175 years later the smithsonian continues to fulfill its mission having grown to become the Worlds Largest Museum Education complex. Each year is different with the pandemic, and the National Mall, and and in the history of our nation. Unfortunately that is not always the case. The fact that museums did not adequately portray the contributions of women and Latino Americans have been well documented. President clinton signedn executive order to establish a commison to identify the accomplishments of women iour nations history and to consider whher we should establish a Womens Museum. In 1994 the smithsonian issued a report regarding lack of her presentation of Latino Americans and contribution to our nation. There have been recommendations for both of these museums for several commissions and that has to. The path to getting it done is not always clear. These projects can take a long time, as the chairman pointed out, they will require a tremendous level of resources an lets get this, moment them. The success of the newest Smithsonian Museum of africanAmerican History and culture sets a High Standard for any Museum Moving forward but as sectary bunch discusses in his testimony it didnt happen overnight. It got 13 years from the passage of congressman lewiss billntil the Museum Opened in september of 2016. Under that timeline even if the leslation we are discussing today was signed into law tomorrow the museum would be open to the public until 2034. That is why i would make the case we shld pass legislation as sn as possible so the hard work to crea these museums can truly begin. When i arrived in the senate there were only 16 women senators led by our dean at the time, Barbara Mikulski from maryland who during her time in the senate was a key leader of the legislation to establish a womes History Museum and as we know, this year mar an important mileone in our democracy, the centennial of the nineteenth amendment guaranteeing women in america the right to ve. We now have 26 women senators which is an all time high. Women continue to break barriers. Earlier this month, our lleague senator Kamala Harris became the first woman elected to be Vice President of the United States. Ioved one of the graphics send online after the election and it said, quote, ladies, make sure to wear shoes because theres glass everywhere. My witness today is a latino womanho knows about breaking barriers. Eva longoria is a trailblazer for latinos in the film industry, she is known for her work both in front of and behind the camera and continues to lead the charge of diverse and female representation in the industry and beyond. In addition to speaking abt the need for a womens History Museum, she could provide a werful voice in support of american Latino Museums. American latinos have been a part of the country since its founding and it is past time for their contribution and experiences to be honod with the museum on the National Mall. It is significant that our colleagues are here today that both these bills have paed the house and have stron bipartisan leadership, democrats and publicans coming together. It is my hope that wcan add both of these bills to our final executive business meeting for the 100 xteenth congress and work to get the bills passed this year, not next year orhe year after. Roosevelt did this in the middle of the depression, he saw the future, someing that wouldnt get done now but would help us to plan ahead for a decade from now. Think about the kids that are watching, the kids that wants to go to that museum and see the women are honored, latinos are honored, this is our moment to do something great by the end of the year. Thank you, senator klobuchar. Senator feinstein. Ranking member klobuchar and fellow members of the committee, thank you for including the smithsonian american womens History Museum act in todays hearing. It has been a wild coming and ivery grateful. I am pleased to in my friend and colleague senar collins in introducing this bipartisan bill to establish a National Womens History Museum. It is a long time coming. In the senate, our3 cosponsors include every woman who sits on this committee, mister chairman. I think Ranking Member klobuchar, senators capito, fisher, hyde smith and cortez mastoh further support. In february the house overwhelmingly passea companion to our bill by a vote of 37437 and it is my hope that this legislation can get done by the end of the yeaand we can celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the nineteenth amendment giving women the right to vote with this commission. From the earliest days of the nation women have made substantial and laing contributions. I dont know why the recognition process has been so difficult but it has been and i think the election of women to places of power like politic bodies has made a difference but the fact is american women have transformed the fields of science, government, literature, medicine and so much more so it is well past time to establish a museum that specifically pays tribute to this history. It would honor and recogze tremendous collective achiement of american women and help to tell a more complete storyf our past. Just a bit of history. In 2014 congress established an independent bipaisan commission to study the tential for creating a National Womens History Museum. Mrs. Jane abham, chair of that commission is here with us today and will be testifying. The commission smitted its report to congress in november of 2016 with the unanimous recommendation to establish comprehensive womens History Museum the report further recommends at this museum be in a prominent locati on or near the National Mall. Run by the smithsonian to be part of the smithsonian, create a process to determine a location for it on the National Mall and appoint leadership to carry out its conruction and operation. I just want to say that im very proud to be here. I welcome senator collins support and leadership. Its been fantastic, and it ao thank y, senator klobuchar. As women have gained in this body i think we have gained our ability to achieve this legislation. So thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator feinsteins. Senator collins. Good morning. Good morning, chairman blunt, Ranking Member klobuchar, senator feinstein, and other members of this committee. Let me begin by thanking you for holding this hearing on leslation to establish new museums, including the bill that senator feinstein and i introduced cled the smithsonian american womens History Museum act. Mr. Chairn, Ranking Member klobuchar, this cause to establish a womens History Museum has always been a bipartisan one. The very first bill that i introduced to create such a museum was in 2003. And at that time senator mikulski, my Dear Colleague senator feinstein were cosponsors of that bill. This year as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of womens suffrage and the decades long fight for womens equality at the ballot box, it is fitting that we at long last establish an institution in our Nations Capital to honor americas women. Women have made invaluable contributions to our country in every field government, business, medicine, law, literature, sports, entertainment, the arts, in the military. As senator klobuchar mentioned, here in the senate we had a Record Number of women, 26 in all, serving. When i first became a senator there were only nine of us. Telling the history of american women matters. It inspires girls to know that there are no boundaries to their potential. A museum recognizing the achievements and experiences of american women is long overdue. In 1999 a president ial commission on commemorating women in our history concluded that, quote, and appropriate celebration of womens history in the next millennium should include the designation of a focal point for womens history in our Nations Capital. In 2014 Congress Took the important steps toward realizing this goal when it passed legislation creating an independent Bipartisan Commission to study establishing such a museum right here in washington, d. C. After 18 months the Bipartisan Commission unanimously concluded that America Needs and deserves a physical National Museum dedicated to showcasing the historical experiences and the impact of women in this country. I agree wholeheartedly with the commissions conclusion, and i want to thank jane abraham for her leadership in having the commission. Following the commissions recommendations, senator feinstein and i introduced legislation to create an american womens History Museum act that would collect, study, and create programs incorporating and exhibiting a wide spectrum of womens experiences, contributions, and history. It would be part of the Smithsonian Institution, ensuring that it is free and open to all who visit washington, and would be representative of the diverse viewpoints held by american women. Its important to emphasize to women that this museum would put tray all aspects of womens contributions to our history without partisanship or bias. It would share the stories of pioneering women such as abolitionist harriet tubman, the founder of theirl scouts, julite gordon low. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day Oconnor and ruth bader ginsburg, leaving suffrages like maineswn Florence Brooks white house, and so many others. The Commission Also recommended a smithsonian wide american mens History Initiative, and since 2010 congress has provided nearly 10 milon in federal funding towards this important step toward creating the museum. Building on these successes, our bill calls for funding commitment from both the private sector andhe federal gornment, following the successful model used by t National Museum of africanAmerican History and culture. Mr. Chairman, ranking memr klobuchar, our bill enjoys broad bipartisan support, and i want to thank the women senators who serve on this committee as well as others for cosponsoring it. It also supported by several organizations, and i would add that their letters of support be entered into the record. Without objection. I also want to acknowledge the steadfast leadership of congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and congressman Brian Fitzpatrick who have led the effort on the house side. In february the house passed its built by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 37437. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member klobuchar, as our womens Suffrage Centennial year draws to a close, i can think of no better way to honor those women and that momentous achievement than by passing the smithsonian american womens History Museum act. I would note, enclosing, mr. Chairman, that in washington we all enjoy the many museums along the National Mall that commemorate various aspects of our history and our culture. We even have a museum that celebrates buildings. Surely, if we can have a musem that celebrates buildings, we ought to have one and are long overdue in establishing one that celebrates the many contributions of american women to our nation. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator collins. Senator cornyn. Good morning, chairn blunt, Ranking Member klobuchar. Its been great to be here with all of you, including our good friend senator collins, and