Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum bill fails in House amid Democratic backlash

The House on Thursday was unable to pass a bill authorizing the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum to be located within the reserve of the National Mall and outlining a framework for selecting the museum’s leadership and its content.

The bill failed by a vote of 204-216, with all Democrats and six Republicans opposing it.

While the bill was originally drafted with strong bipartisan backing, Democrats peeled away their support after it was amended to allow the president to “designate an alternative site for the Museum within 180 days” of the measure’s enactment. The legislation notes that the museum’s location will be designated as the South Monument site, located on the National Mall.

The amended measure also includes a transgender ban, noting that “the Museum may not identify, present,........

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