Rep. Maloney Announces Social Media Campaign In Support Of Women's History Museum

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Saturday kicked off a campaign urging the creation of a National Women's History Museum.

Maloney was joined by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilwoman Rosie Mendez (D-2nd), and others on Saturday to announce the creation of the #BecauseOfHer campaign, a social media effort featuring women sharing the stories of other women who inspired their lives. The goal is intended to draw attention to an effort for a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C. to compile the stories.

Maloney and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have authored a bill to create a privately-funded commission to make recommendations for a museum, a news release pointed out. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives May 7, but has been blocked in the Senate, the release said.

"We started #BecauseOfHer to highlight the importance of inspirational figures," Maloney said in a news release. "For me it was Geraldine Ferraro. She was a trailblazer. She was the first woman to be nominated to a major-party presidential ticket. Her story should be told and the stories of other remarkable women should be told to inspire the great leaders of our next generation. My bill to establish a National Women's History Museum is being held up by two male Senators. I hope that this effort will show the broad support for the museum and why it is so important."

Brewer emphasized the importance of girls and young women having role models showing what they can achieve.

"When I was younger, I got into political life because of Mary Anne Krupsak, the first woman elected lieutenant governor of New York State. Women of all ages need role models and illustrations of the various paths that women can take in life. That's why I strongly support Congresswoman Maloney's bill to create the National Women's History Museum," Brewer said in the release.

A companion bill in support of the Women's History Museum was introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland), and sponsored by all 20 women in the Senate the release said. While the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the bill, time is running out on the current session of Congress, the release said.

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