Key Takeaways
- •The committee favorably reported H.R. 5891 to withhold congressional pay during shutdowns and H.R. 1329 to establish a women's museum, though the latter passed along strictly partisan lines.
- •Rep. Mary Miller (R, IL-15) argued that the accomplishments of biological women should not be overshadowed by biological men, justifying her amendment to restrict the museum's scope.
- •Rep. Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25) challenged the museum bill's site-selection changes, while Rep. Bryan Steil (R, WI-1) maintained that the legislation would finally move the long-stalled project forward.
- •Republicans and Democrats agreed on withholding member pay but clashed over "poison pill" amendments regarding gender identity and the exclusion of the National Museum of the American Latino.
- •These bills head to the House floor as the government remains in a partial shutdown, highlighting deep divisions over Department of Homeland Security funding and agency oversight.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The Committee on House Administration met on March 18, 2026, to conduct a markup of several legislative measures, primarily focusing on congressional pay during government shutdowns and the establishment of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. Chairman Bryan Steil (R, WI-1) opened the session by announcing that H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agency’s Clarification Act, would be postponed to allow for further bipartisan negotiations regarding appointments at the Library of Congress and other legislative branch agencies. The committee then proceeded to debate and vote on H.R. 5891 and H.R. 1329.
Policy Proposals
The first measure considered was H.R. 5891, the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act. This legislation prohibits members of Congress from receiving their salaries during any lapse in federal appropriations. Chairman Steil noted that the bill was particularly timely given a current partial government shutdown that had left the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unfunded since February 14. He highlighted that over 100,000 federal employees, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and U.S. Coast Guard members, were working without pay while lawmakers continued to receive theirs. Ranking Member Joseph Morelle (D, NY-25) expressed support for the bill, noting that he and other members already voluntarily withhold their pay during impasses.
Organizations & Entities
Despite the unanimous 9-0 vote to report H.R. 5891 favorably, the debate revealed deep partisan divisions regarding the cause of the ongoing shutdown. Chairman Steil and Rep. Laurel Lee (R, FL-15) attributed the funding lapse to Senate Democrats and the White House, arguing that Republicans had passed necessary funding for DHS. Conversely, Rep. Norma Torres (D, CA-35) and Rep. Julie Johnson (D, TX-32) argued that the shutdown was a result of Republican refusal to reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rep. Johnson specifically cited the death of an Afghan hero in ICE custody in her district as a reason why Democrats refused to fund the agency without significant overhauls.
Overview
The committee then turned to H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act. While both parties expressed support for the museum's creation, the markup became highly contentious following an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) offered by Rep. Mary Miller (R, IL-15). The Miller amendment introduced several "guardrails," most notably a provision requiring the museum to honor only "biological women." It also granted the President unilateral authority to designate a site for the museum on the National Mall within 100 days, bypassing the Smithsonian’s traditional site-selection process, and restructured the museum’s governing boards.
Policy Proposals
Ranking Member Morelle and other Democrats, including Rep. Terri Sewell (D, AL-7), strongly opposed the Miller amendment, labeling it a "poison pill" that politicized a previously bipartisan effort. They criticized the omission of the National Museum of the American Latino, which had historically been paired with the Women's Museum in legislative efforts. Rep. Morelle argued that the amendment gave the President "Orwellian" control over historical narratives and criticized the "biological women" language as exclusionary. Rep. Torres offered an amendment to restore the original bipartisan language and include the Latino Museum, but this was defeated in a 4-7 party-line vote.
Rep. Lee spoke in favor of the museum, drawing on her experience as Florida’s Secretary of State to emphasize the importance of preserving the stories of women in leadership and civic life. However, the inclusion of the Miller amendment's restrictive language led all Democrats to vote against the final bill. H.R. 1329 was reported favorably to the House by a 7-4 vote.
Overview
Throughout the hearing, broader themes of congressional capacity and judicial shifts were discussed. Ranking Member Morelle referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright (which ended Chevron deference), arguing that Congress must increase its technical expertise and resources through agencies like the Congressional Research Service (CRS) and the Library of Congress to meet the new demands of precise lawmaking.
Policy Proposals
The markup concluded with the favorable reporting of both H.R. 5891 and H.R. 1329 (as amended) to the House floor. No specific deadlines for floor action were established, though Chairman Steil indicated a desire to return to the postponed legislative branch reforms in the near future.
Overview
Organizations identified in the hearing: - Smithsonian Institution: Discussed as the parent organization for new museums; the committee debated its site-selection authority versus presidential authority. - Smithsonian American Women's History Museum: The primary subject of H.R. 1329; debate centered on its location, governing board, and the definition of "women" for its exhibits. - United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Mentioned as the department currently facing a funding lapse, affecting multiple sub-agencies. - Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Identified as an agency whose employees are currently working without pay during the shutdown. - United States Coast Guard: Cited as a critical DHS component currently impacted by the lapse in appropriations. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): A major point of contention; Democrats criticized its conduct and demanded reforms, while Republicans defended its funding. - The White House: Discussed regarding its role in the shutdown and the new authority granted to the President to select museum sites. - National Museum of the American Latino: Democrats criticized its exclusion from the current version of the Smithsonian legislation. - Supreme Court of the United States: Referenced regarding the Loper Bright decision and its impact on congressional legislative drafting. - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Mentioned as a DHS agency affected by the funding impasse. - Library of Congress: Mentioned in the context of postponed legislative branch reforms and its role in providing expertise to Congress. - House Committee on Appropriations: Referenced regarding the funding process and a discharge petition filed by its ranking member. - Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Noted as a DHS component understaffed due to the shutdown. - National Museum of African American History and Culture: Cited as a precedent for the long process of establishing museums on the National Mall. - Islamic Republic of Iran: Mentioned by Chairman Steil as a state sponsor of terrorism that U.S. forces are currently engaged with during the shutdown. - Congressional Research Service (CRS): Identified as a vital resource for congressional capacity. - Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Praised for its efforts to improve congressional operations. - United States Government Publishing Office (GPO): Mentioned as an agency subject to future legislative branch reforms. - United States Copyright Office: Mentioned as an agency subject to future legislative branch reforms.
Transcript
The Committee on House Administration will come to order. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. Today, the Committee on House Administration will consider two separate pieces of legislation. These bills will increase transparency with the American people, establish a new location for the Smithsonian Museum. In consultation with my colleague, the ranking member, we'll be pulling off the Legislative Branch Agency Reform, but working to remedy that and come back with what I think will be a great piece of legislation that will address some of those concerns. First, we'll consider H.R. 5891, the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act. This legislation prohibits members from collecting pay during a lapse in appropriations. Last fall, I think as everybody here recalls, we had the longest government shutdown in history. We're now in a partial shutdown. The Department of Homeland Security hasn't been funded since February 14. It's been 32 days since TSA agents have been fully and properly compensated. This is at a time during which we should be securing and protecting the homeland. Schumer and Democrats in the Senate are playing politics with DHS funding. We all know the spending process in Washington is broken, and the Withhold Member Pay During Shutdowns Act starts to fix the broken system. The bill ensures that no members collect a paycheck while hardworking federal employees are being forced to work without their pay. I'm thankful to my colleagues on their feedback on this common sense legislation and look forward to discussing it further today. Next, we'll consider H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women's History Act. The Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act. This legislation allows the Smithsonian to move forward with construction of the future museum to recognize and honor the contributions of American women. It's all the more exciting that we're considering this legislation during our nation's 250th anniversary. Finally, we were going to be considering H.R. 6028, the Legislative Branch Agency's Clarification Act, which was introduced by my colleague, Morgan Griffith. That process, in consultation with my friend, the ranking member, Mr. Morelle, we're going to pull that legislation, work towards some amendments and adjustments, and then come back to this committee with a final product that I think has a real opportunity to pass in a bipartisan way. These are the types of reforms I think that this committee historically has done a great job of, finding ways where all of us across the aisle can look and determine how we can make improvements in the operation of legislative branch agencies, from GPO to Library of Congress and including the Copyright Office. And so I thank my colleagues for being here today, appreciate their engagement in all of these important pieces of legislation on both sides of the aisle, and look forward to discussing the legislation further. I'll yield back and I'll now recognize the ranking member, Mr. Morelle, for five minutes for the purpose of making an opening statement.
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