SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT, NEW YORK ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER CRYSTAL PEOPLES-STOKES HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE SMITHSONIAN’S FIRST-EVER ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR THE NEW SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN WOMEN’S HISTORY MUSEUM; SCHUMER’S APPOINTMENT OF PEOPLES-STOKES ON MUSEUM’S INAUGURAL COUNCIL ENSURES NEW YORK WILL HAVE INTEGRAL ROLE IN SHAPING MUSEUM’S FUTURE

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that following his support for her appointment, the Smithsonian Institution has officially named Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes to the advisory council for the new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. In September, Schumer appointed Leader Peoples-Stokes to fill a congressionally-appointed role on the inaugural advisory council for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

The legislation creating the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum called for a 25-member advisory council that consists of 19 citizens, the Smithsonian Secretary, a member of the Board of Regents and four members appointed by congressional leadership. The council will advise the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents for the new museum and make recommendations on the location, planning, design and construction of the museum. The council also helps with fundraising and maintaining the museum’s collections.

“I am proud to have nominated my dear friend and fellow Majority Leader, Crystal Peoples-Stokes, for this historic opportunity to help shape the new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum,” said Senator Schumer. “Crystal has been nothing short of a trailblazer for women, and particularly for women of color, her entire career and I can think of no person more appropriate or consequential for this position. I look forward to seeing her take on this key position of preserving our nation’s history and bringing to life a living catalog of the importance of American women everywhere. It will be a motivation and inspiration for young girls and young women for generations hence.”

“It gives me great honor to be appointed to the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Advisory Council,” said Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly. “In this role, I have the extraordinary mission to help the Smithsonian highlight American women’s heritage and display our contributions to history, culture, and society. I want to thank U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the appointment and congratulate my fellow members of the advisory council whose leadership will help to make this museum a reality.”

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education and research system, consisting of 19 museums, the National Zoological Park, education centers, research facilities, cultural centers and libraries. Two new museums—the National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum—are currently in development.

###