After 16 years of advocacy efforts, a bill that advances a National Women’s History Museum is finally headed to the president’s desk. Congress approved the legislation as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which cleared the House on December 4 and passed the Senate last week. The bill will establish a commission to study the creation of the museum in Washington, D.C. AAUW has been a long-time supporter of this bill and believes a museum to recognize women’s many historic accomplishments is long overdue.

By the time the 113th Senate adjourned on Tuesday night, it had confirmed 132 judicial nominations for federal district and circuit courts across the country. Despite periods of heightened obstruction of judicial nominees, this final total is the highest number of confirmations a single Congress has approved in more than 30 years.