Female congresswomen across the aisle came together on Monday, July 21 to strongly urge for the financial support of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
In 2020, the House passed a bill with bipartisan support to establish the museum, but funding has remained stalled for the past five years. Multiple attempts to move new bills forward have been blocked, and the fight to secure funding has stretched into the 2026 fiscal year.
Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and the Republican Women’s Caucus sent a joint letter to the House Appropriations Committee to press for complete funding of the American Women’s History Museum in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal funding bill.
“It’s time that women’s contributions to our great nation’s history receive the recognition they deserve,” the members wrote. “The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum will give the public powerful access to the trailblazing women and untold stories that have shaped our nation.”
Citing the museum’s previous survey, the members reported that less than a quarter of respondents could easily recall a significant female historical figure. Comparatively, three-quarters of respondents could easily recall a male historical figure.
The letter noted the most reasonable explanation for this, explaining how 70% of history books are written by men and only 6% of those men write about women in history.
The members emphasize the critical need for enhanced public education and greater access to women’s history. The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum would address longstanding gaps in the nation’s historical narrative caused by underrepresentation in American public school curriculum.
In today’s polarized political climate, bipartisan initiatives for social progress are increasingly rare. This coalition demonstrates that women’s history transcends party lines, and investing in this museum would serve women across generations.
This united call from female members underscores the urgent need to fully fund the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Beyond politics, this effort represents a commitment to correcting historical omissions and providing future generations with a more inclusive understanding of our nation’s past.
Securing this funding is not only an investment in a museum but a vital step toward educational equity and honoring the legacy of women who have shaped America.