LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to support the National Women's History Museum's efforts in secur-
ing a permanent home in the nation's capital for a museum that will
highlight the important role women have played in shaping this great
nation

WHEREAS, In 1987, Congress declared March to serve as Women's History
Month to acknowledge the important role women have played in shaping
America; and
WHEREAS, Although women constitute a majority of the nation's popu-
lation, their achievements and contributions are underrepresented in
museums and memorials; and
WHEREAS, Only 10% of the people identified in a recent survey of 18
history textbooks were women; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, the President's Commission on the Celebration of
Women in American History called for a women's history museum to be
established on The National Mall in Washington, DC; and
WHEREAS, The National Women's History Museum (NWHM), founded in 1996,
is a nonpartisan, non-profit, educational institution dedicated to
preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contrib-
utions of women, and integrating the heritage of women fully into this
nation's history; and
WHEREAS, The NWHM seeks a site on or close to the National Mall and in
close proximity to the White House and U.S. Capitol Building; and
WHEREAS, The NWHM has identified federally owned property for sale
near the National Mall; and
WHEREAS, Legislation is currently pending in Congress seeking authori-
zation for the NWHM to be able to purchase this property at fair market
value with privately raised funds and no federal funds are being
requested for the purchase of this land; and
WHEREAS, There are museums dedicated to flight, postage stamps, build-
ings and many other important people and issues of interest but not to
women, and yet women comprise 51% of the nation's population; and
WHEREAS, The NWHM will showcase the full history of women in the
United States and the contributions they have made and continue to make
in the marketplace, arts and sciences, government, entertainment, educa-
tion, home, and community; and
WHEREAS, A Coalition of 43 women's organizations representing eight
million women, which includes the National Foundation for Women Legisla-
tors (NFWL), supports the efforts of the NWHM to establish a permanent
residence near the National Mall, the most prominent location for muse-
ums to be situated in the nation's capital; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support
the National Women's History Museum's efforts in securing a permanent
home in the nation's capital for a museum that will highlight the impor-
tant role women have played in shaping this great nation; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.