The House easily passed legislation on Tuesday to establish a women's history museum in the nation's capital as part of the Smithsonian Institution.



The bipartisan 374-37 vote marked the biggest step yet of the decades-long effort by House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney Carolyn Bosher MaloneyHouse panel advances bill to ban Postal Service leaders from holding political positions Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' DHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law MORE (D-N.Y.) to build a women's history museum along the National Mall.



The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it also has bipartisan support. But neither Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) nor President Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE have committed to moving it forward.





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"The journey of this moment started for me with a walk around the National Mall. I was looking at all the museums, and I saw them dedicated to air, space, spies, law enforcement, textiles, the postal service, arts. All enriching institutions. But I found myself asking, 'Where are the women?'" Maloney said on the House floor before the vote.



"Unfortunately, women have been left out of the telling of our nation's history," she said.

"Congresswoman Cheney represents Wyoming, where generations of women have demonstrated grit, determination, courage and leadership in building our great state. She believes women’s accomplishments deserve to be honored in an equal manner, alongside those of men, as part of our great national story," a Cheney spokesperson said.

Six years ago, 33 Republicans voted against Maloney's bill to create the commission to study the concept of a museum, citing concerns it would promote women who advocated for abortion rights and require taxpayer funding.

Maloney, who became the first woman to chair the House Oversight and Reform Committee in November, has been advocating for a women's history museum since 1998.