Washington - Senate Democrats hailed the enactment today of a bipartisan bill to make the vision of a National Museum of the American Latino a reality. The Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of American Latino Act of 2007 (S.500/H.R. 512) would establish a 23-member commission to study the potential creation of a national museum in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the art, culture, and history of the Latino Community in the United States. The Latino museum legislation signed by the President today was a part of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008.
"I am proud that Senate Democrats led the way to approve legislation, which was signed into law today, that honors the countless contributions of Hispanic Americans to our country," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. "By enacting a bill that would bring us a step closer to honoring Latinos with a national museum in Washington, D.C., we helped bring long overdue recognition to the vital place that Latinos have in our national mosaic."
"I believe we must celebrate the diversity of our Nation and Latinos have been a significant part of American history. They have contributed to nearly every facet of our culture, including the arts, business and our military," said Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO). "Today is a big day for the Latino community throughout the United States as we move forward to highlight the rich contributions of the community to American life in a national museum. The end result will be a more complete record of our past and a better experience for the 20 million visitors that come to our nation's capital to learn about our shared culture and history."
"The Congress and the President have joined together to acknowledge that America's success would not be possible without the political, cultural and economic contributions of the Latino community," said Senator Robert Menéndez (D-NJ). "The National Museum of the American Latino Community is an idea that is overdue -- Latino culture, dreams and advancements are not outside but within the very fabric of American life, and I am delighted that we are working to share these proud traditions with the public."
"If progress is measured in baby steps, I think it's fair to say that the president's pen today has brought this important project into its adolescence. It is my hope that the commission will begin its work soon so that this vision, this dream, will further mature into full reality. It is truly an incredible day," Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), the House author of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of American Latino Act, said.
The bill 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.
###
