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The SHAWL Act: New Rules for Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall

Original title: SHAWL Act

August 2, 2024

SmithsonianNational MallMuseumsAmerican Latino HistoryWomen's HistoryFederal Land

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill changes the legal site-selection criteria for two major national museums and imposes new oversight requirements on how they curate exhibits to ensure a broad spectrum of political and cultural representation.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Smithsonian Institution

Must comply with new site-transfer procedures and exhibit curation requirements.

Federal agencies

Must transfer administrative jurisdiction of land or structures to the Smithsonian if designated for a museum site.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

The SHAWL Act authorizes the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum to be built within the National Mall's protected Reserve area. It also establishes new requirements for these museums to include diverse political and cultural viewpoints in their exhibits and mandates regular reporting to Congress.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can the new museums be built?
The bill allows them to be located within the , overriding previous restrictions.
What are the new requirements for museum exhibits?
Museums must actively seek guidance from a diverse range of sources to ensure exhibits reflect varied political viewpoints, cultures, and lived experiences.
Who oversees the museums' compliance with these new rules?
The Secretary of the Smithsonian must report to several House and Senate committees every two years regarding compliance.

Why It Matters

This bill changes the legal site-selection criteria for two major national museums and imposes new oversight requirements on how they curate exhibits to ensure a broad spectrum of political and cultural representation.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Increased Congressional Oversight of Curatorial Content

The bill shifts from general museum autonomy to a mandated, report-heavy oversight model regarding the political and cultural content of exhibits.

Smithsonian Institution

Connected Entities

organizationCommittee on Natural Resources“The committee responsible for reviewing the bill.”Map →
organizationBoard of Trustees“The governing body of the museums.”Map →
organizationSmithsonian National Museum of the American Latino“The primary museum being authorized.”Map →
organizationBoard of Regents“The governing body of the Smithsonian Institution.”Map →
personMs. Chu“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →
organizationSmithsonian American Women’s History Museum“The second museum being authorized.”Map →
personMr. Cardenas“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →
personMs. Malliotakis“Lead sponsor of the bill.”Map →
personMrs. Gonzalez-Colon“Co-sponsor of the bill.”Map →
organizationCommittee on House Administration“The committee responsible for reviewing the bill.”Map →
locationReserve of the National Mall“The designated location for the museums.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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