Staten Island Reporter

Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) has joined Representatives Judy Chu (CA-28), Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico), and Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) in introducing H.R.9274, the Smithsonian History of American Women and Latino (SHAWL) Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to build the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall.

In 2020, under the Trump Administration, Congress authorized the creation of these two museums with substantial bipartisan support. The new legislation seeks to facilitate this process by transferring land from the National Park Service to the Smithsonian Institution for construction near the Tidal Basin on the National Mall.

"I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the bipartisan SHAWL Act to continue building on efforts to make these critically important museums a reality," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "By establishing these museums, we can share the stories of trailblazing women and Latinos who came before us so future generations can learn about their many contributions, how they helped build our nation and fought for equal rights and protections under the law."

Representative Judy Chu emphasized that "the National Mall tells the story of our country, and that story is incomplete without the inclusion of the prolific accomplishments of America’s women and the Latino community." She added, "I’m working with a broad coalition of Members of Congress to introduce and pass the bipartisan SHAWL Act, which will see to it that the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino secure their rightful, prominent spots on the National Mall."

Representative Jenniffer González-Colón noted her honor in supporting this initiative as "the first woman to represent Puerto Rico in Congress." She stated, "Women and Hispanics were integral to the foundation of America and who we are today. Despite accounting for 51% and 19% of the U.S. population respectively, their history is absent from where it belongs—the National Mall."

Representative Tony Cárdenas remarked that "the introduction of this critical bill brings us one step closer to fulfilling the dream of having both museums right where they belong—on the National Mall." He highlighted that building these museums would enrich visitors' experiences in Washington D.C., offering a more complete narrative of America's history.

Last month, Representatives Malliotakis and Chu hosted a bipartisan breakfast at Capitol Hill with Lynda Carter—known for her role as Wonder Woman—and members of both museum advisory councils to garner support for this legislation.

The image accompanying this announcement features Congresswoman Malliotakis alongside Dr. Elizabeth Babcock, Director of Smithsonian American Women's History Museum; New York State Assembly Majority Leader & Museum Advisory Board Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes; Vivian Riefberg; actress Lynda Carter; and Jane Abraham (co-chair), all members of various museum advisory councils.