A bill to construct a Smithsonian museum focused on women's history is making its way through Congress –– but now with a newly added amendment that would ban exhibits about transgender women.

The amendment recently passed in the House Administration Committee, with all seven Republicans on the panel voting yes and the four Democrats rejecting. The tally cleared the way for the updated text to be brought to the floor of the lower chamber.

“The museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States,” the bill’s amendment states. 

What You Need To Know

  • Congress approved funding for a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum in 2020, but it hasn’t been built yet

  • The bill passed in the House Administration Committee on Wednesday, but with a new amendment that says only the achievements of "biological women" can be showcased

  • The Smithsonian can’t move forward with the plan until Congress approves it

  • Since its launch several years ago, the museum has been fully functioning online and hosting virtual events

Back in 2020, Congress approved funding for the museum, but additional measures are needed before construction for the project can begin on the National Mall. 

Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York has been leading the effort behind the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, which would authorize a site for the museum, since last year.

“This should be something that everyone's proud of and we're really hopeful that we'll be able to deliver this for the women of America who deserve to have a museum dedicated to their accomplishments and their contributions to our country,” she said. 

Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., blamed GOP leadership for the hold up, but also emphasized Malliotakis’ efforts among Republicans to propel the plan forward. 

“She's been working very, very hard. She has been talking to her leadership. She's been pushing it hard,” Dingell said. “Quite frankly, that's probably where there are more challenges. But, I think we're trying to work together in a bipartisan manner to do something that will tell the history of so many untold stories of the women, the history of women in this country.” 

Now more than a year since Malliotakis introduced the bill, there has been some movement. 

But, with the recent additions, there may be fresh challenges to garner Democratic support. 

The Democratic Women’s Caucus pushed back against the new amendment in a statement, calling it “partisan, hateful, and dangerous.” 

They blamed the caveat on President Donald Trump’s influence on Republicans in Congress.

The amendment also gives Trump the final say in where the museum will be built.

The president has been a supporter of the plan, praising Malliotakis’ efforts last year at a Women’s History Month event at the White House. 

“She said it's going to be a big, beautiful museum. Well, it has to be. If it's for women, it better be big and beautiful or we're in trouble, right? But we're working on that,” Trump said at the time. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., pushed back against the amendment, but on Thursday said she hasn’t decided if she’ll vote for it. 

“We should be celebrating and promoting the journeys and the legacies of struggles of all women that have contributed to the journey of this country,” she said. “And to do that just shows how obtuse and out of touch they are and how they're continuing to use culture wars to divide this country.”

And one thing that Dingell and Malliotakis do agree on is the need to have a physical space to showcase women’s history on the National Mall. 

“Women throughout the course of this country's history have made significant contributions, and I think that young people will be inspired to learn about the contributions of the women that have come before us,” Malliotakis said.