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House bill would allow World War II women’s memorial near World War II Memorial on the National Mall
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Summary
H.R. 2290 would authorize the World War II Women's Memorial to be located within the National Mall reserve (Area I) adjacent to the existing World War II Memorial or in Constitution Gardens; the foundation said the memorial would be small, privately funded and positioned to connect thematically with the World War II era.
Rep. Debbie Dingell and Rep. Mike Fulcher (co-leads noted during the hearing) asked the subcommittee to consider H.R. 2290, the World War II Women’s Memorial Location Act, to authorize the placement of a memorial on the National Mall reserve honoring the more than 18 million American women who supported the war effort on the home front during World War II.
Rya (Raya) Kenny, executive director of the World War II Women’s Memorial Foundation, described a decade‑long effort to secure site authorization after Congress authorized establishment of the memorial in 2022. "We found that the locations with the strongest thematic and historical nexuses are adjacent to the World War II memorial or slightly northwest of that memorial in Constitution Gardens," Kenny said, adding that the foundation envisions a site "less than a quarter of an acre of space, low to the ground, and unobtrusive to our beautiful national landscape."
Kenny and sponsoring members said the memorial’s proximity to the existing World War II Memorial would help visitors connect the women’s contributions to the broader wartime story; she noted the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission previously advised that Area I locations better connect the memorial thematically with that era. The foundation and supporters said the memorial will be funded through private donations; Kenny said she did not expect taxpayer dollars to fund construction.
Supporters emphasized urgency: Representative Mike Fulcher and others noted that the cohort of women the memorial honors is aging and supporters want living World War II home‑front veterans to see the memorial. Fulcher asked Kenny whether she knew how many of the “Rosies” remain alive; she replied she did not have an exact number but that their numbers "are dwindling at every month that passes," underscoring the advocates’ push for expedited action.
Ranking Member Neguse voiced support for the memorial while raising broader concerns about signage and messaging at national parks and about pending funding cuts to the National Park Service; he said the committee should reconcile efforts to add commemorative works with current agency staffing and budget pressures.
The hearing record shows H.R. 2290 was presented and supported by multiple members and witnesses but no committee vote was taken. Witnesses were asked to provide additional materials for the record; committee staff will determine next procedural steps, including any site studies or formal approvals by the National Park Service and related advisory commissions.
