WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States House of Representatives tonight voted to give final approval to the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (S.2739), which passed in the Senate April 10. Contained within S.2739 is the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R.512/S.500), legislation authored by Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31) which passed in the House February 6, 2007. S.2739 now heads to the White House for the president’s signature.
“This broadly supported effort to ensure that American Latinos are included in our national narrative has cleared its final congressional hurdle,” Rep. Becerra, Assistant to the Speaker of the House, said. “The president’s signature will seal the deal and pave the way for the formation of the commission and the first steps toward recognizing the contributions of an important American community.”
Once signed into law, H.R.512/S.500 sets up a 23 member commission charged with producing three things: one, a national conference to bring stakeholders, experts, policymakers and other interested parties together to discuss the museum’s viability; two, a fundraising plan to create an extensive public-private partnership; and three, a report to Congress detailing a recommended plan of action on how to move forward with taking the museum from concept to reality. All of this will happen within 24 months of the bill being signed into law.
Rep. Becerra has long advocated for the formation of a committee to study the creation of a museum focused on American Latino art, history and culture. He first introduced legislation to meet this goal in the 108th congress. The bill was reintroduced in the 109th and 110th Congresses, and passed the House in both.
To learn more about H.R.512/S.500, please visit Rep. Becerra’s Latino museum Web site by clicking here.
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