Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) resigned as vice chair and member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus on Friday after the House shot down her legislation to establish a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall.The bill failed by a 216-204 vote on Thursday, with six Republicans joining Democrats to oppose it. Malliotakis said the vote was the final straw for her, and she criticized Democrats for consistently refusing to cross the aisle.“Sadly, it has become apparent to me over the past five years that the bipartisanship of the Problem Solvers Caucus has clearly been a one-way street,” she wrote in a letter to the two caucus chairmen. “Time and again, Republicans in this caucus cross party lines to advance key pieces of legislation, whether it be with their votes or signatures on discharge petitions, yet the Democrats do not.”
“I have repeatedly found myself disappointed by the lack of help Republicans receive from our Democratic colleagues on this Caucus when their vote would actually make a difference in whether a measure passes or fails,” the congresswoman wrote.
If it passed, the bill would have authorized the use of federal land on the National Mall for an American Women’s History Museum. The Smithsonian could not start construction on the project until the land was transferred. The museum was set to be built in the area across from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
