Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Bill Rejected

The House rejected a bill to locate a new Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall after Republicans revised the legislation to exclude transgender people.

The bill was initially presented as a step toward securing the museum's location, but it was revised during a committee vote last month to add a mission scope that states, "The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States."

It also adds a prohibition which states, "The Museum may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female."

Democrats said that the provision change gives Trump the authority to decide where the museum would ultimately go. "And we do not agree with that," said Leger Fernandez.

But Republicans argued that the provision is simply a fail-safe in the event there's any problem with the proposed site to ensure the museum can move ahead.

An additional revision this week removed the word "diversity," saying instead the museum's organizing council should ensure a "range" of political viewpoints and experiences.

"I just think it’s ridiculous that we are arguing over this," said Malliotakis.

She said it's bothering Democrats that it will be Trump who breaks ground on the museum, "but that’s the reality."

Associated Press writers Stephen Groves, Joey Cappelletti and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.