WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six senators – Ken Salazar (CO), Mel Martinez (FL), Robert Menendez (NJ), Orrin Hatch (UT), Jeff Bingaman (NM) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) – introduced S.2475, a word-for-word companion bill to Representative Xavier Becerra’s (CA-31) H.R. 2134, legislation that would explore the viability of constructing a museum focused on Latino art, history and culture.
“I am so very grateful to these six distinguished women and men for taking this necessary step to help make passage of this bill – and subsequent construction of the museum – a reality,” Rep. Becerra said.
When signed into law, the “Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community Act” will set up a 23 member commission charged with producing a national conference to bring stakeholders, experts, policymakers and other interested parties together to discuss the museum’s viability; a fundraising plan to create an extensive public-private partnership; and a report to congress detailing a recommended plan of action on how to move forward with taking the museum from concept to reality. All this will occur within 18 months of the bill’s passage.
“A museum honoring Hispanics in our nation’s capital would be a fitting tribute to the important contributions of Hispanic Americans throughout history,” Senator Martinez said. “I commend Rep. Becerra for his leadership on this bill.”
“Latinos have been a part of American history since before the birth of our nation,” said Senator Salazar. “My own family helped found the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1598. And through every major war to protect and preserve America’s freedoms, Latinos have served in our Nation’s military in record numbers. This bill takes the first step in recognizing Latino art, culture and heritage through the establishment of a national museum dedicated to recognizing and documenting the diverse and substantial contributions of the Latino community. The end result will be a more enhanced experience for the 20 million visitors that come to our nation’s capital to learn the full history of America.”
H.R. 2134 is scheduled for a congressional hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks in the House Committee on Resources, a positive step in the direction of getting closer to a vote by the full House of Representatives.
“Momentum’s growing,” Rep. Becerra said. “Yesterday’s bipartisan Senate introduction, today’s congressional hearing and 106 – and growing – co-sponsors to the House bill are all signs that point positively to the museum’s inevitability.”
To learn more about H.R. 2134, please visit the museum home page of Rep. Becerra’s Web site at /HoR/CA31/Latino+Museum.htm.
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