November 21, 2003   SENATE APPROVES SEN. COLLINS’ BILL TO CREATE NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MUSEUM Project Would Benefit D.C., Recognize Women’s Contributions to the Nation   WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate tonight has approved Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins’ (R-ME) legislation to create a national women’s history museum on the site of a vacant building in Washington, D.C. that is owned by the General Services Administration (GSA). During a speech on the Senate floor tonight, Senator Collins explained that a women’s museum would help the D.C. economy by boosting local tourism and visitor spending, and generating tax revenue. “Such a museum would also showcase the many important social, economic, cultural, and political contributions that women have made to our country. And all this could be done at virtually no cost to taxpayers,” said Senator Collins. The legislation would direct the GSA to enter into a long-term occupancy agreement with the National Women’s History Museum, Inc. (NWHM), a nonprofit organization, to develop the Old Post Office Annex on Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. into a national women’s history museum. It is estimated that such a museum would draw more than 1.5 million visitors to the Capitol each year. The site—which is adjacent to the Old Post Office Building—has been vacant for more than 10 years. Under Senator Collins’ bill (S. 1741), NWHM would pay fair market value to rent the Annex and would be responsible for completing the building’s renovation and modification. The fair market value would be determined through an appraisal process. “This is a great use for an empty federal building, and it makes good fiscal sense,” said Senator Collins. “I hope the House will consider this legislation expeditiously.” In October, Senator Collins held a committee hearing focusing on the need for federal real property reform and called for ways to reuse vacant or underutilized federal properties. The Governmental Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over both the District and the General Services Administration.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 November 2003 Press Releases   November 25 - Chairman Collins Calls on SEC to Provide Information About its Investigation of Mutual Funds’ Questionable Activities   November 25 - Sen. Collins Urges President to Coordinate Federal Agroterrorism Preparedness and Response Efforts   November 21 current Press Release   November 20 - Sen. Collins Praises DHS for Efforts to Improve Cargo Security   November 20 - Collins Releases GAO Report on Electricity Blackout; Says Findings Emphasize Failings of Proposed Energy Bill   November 19 - Sen. Collins: America’s Agricultural Industry Is Vulnerable To Terrorist Attack   November 18 - Chairman Collins Urges DHS Deputy Secretary Nominee to Make Port Security, Investing in First Responders Top Priorities   November 14 - Collins, Lieberman Urge Administration to Improve Port Security by Funding Key Coast Guard Project   November 13 - Homeland Security Grants Will Help Protect High-Risk Areas, Says Chairman Collins   November 13 - Senator Collins’ Provision to Increase Federal Worker Pay Included in Conference Report   November 13 - Sen. Collins’ Contracting Provisions Included In Defense Authorization Bill   November 7 - Sen. Collins Issues Statement on Civil Service Reform   November 7 - Senator Collins: America Still Vulnerable to Bioterrorist Attacks   November 5 - Sen. Collins to Introduce Legislation to Reform the Postal Service   November 4 - Sen. Collins Comments on Office of Federal Procurement Policy Nominee   November 3 - Sen. Collins Questions Why SEC Has Failed to Detect Mutual Fund Abuses
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