1.This Act may be cited as the
Commission to Study the Potential
Creation of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage Act of
2006
.
2.Establishment of Commission
(a)There is established the Commission to
Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the Commission
).
(b)The Commission shall consist of 23 members
appointed not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act
as follows:
(1)The President shall appoint 7 voting
members.
(2)The Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the minority leader of the House of Representatives, the
majority leader of the Senate, and the minority leader of the Senate shall each
appoint 3 voting members.
(3)In addition to the members appointed under
paragraph (2), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader
of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the
minority leader of the Senate shall each appoint 1 nonvoting member.
(c)Members of the Commission shall be chosen
from among individuals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who
possess either—
(1)a demonstrated commitment to the research,
study, or promotion of American Latino life, art, history, political or
economic status, or culture, together with—
(A)expertise in museum administration;
(B)expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or
cultural institutions;
(C)experience in the study and teaching of
Latino culture and history at the post-secondary level;
(D)experience in studying the issue of the
Smithsonian Institution’s representation of American Latino art, life, history,
and culture; or
(E)extensive experience in public or elected
service; or
(2)experience in the administration of, or the
planning for the establishment of, museums devoted to the study and promotion
of the role of ethnic, racial, or cultural groups in American history.
3.Functions of the Commission
(a)Plan of action for establishment and
maintenance of MuseumThe
Commission shall submit a report to the President and the Congress containing
its recommendations with respect to a plan of action for the establishment and
maintenance of a National Museum of American Latino Heritage in Washington, DC
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the Museum
).
(b)The Commission shall develop a fundraising
plan for supporting the creation and maintenance of the Museum through
contributions by the American people, and a separate plan on fundraising by the
American Latino community.
(c)The Commission shall examine (in
consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution), and submit a
report to the President and the Congress on, the following issues:
(1)The availability and cost of collections to
be acquired and housed in the Museum.
(2)The impact of the Museum on regional
Hispanic- and Latino-related museums.
(3)Possible locations for the Museum in
Washington, DC and its environs, to be considered in consultation with the
National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, the
Department of the Interior and Smithsonian Institution.
(4)Whether the Museum should be located within
the Smithsonian Institution.
(5)The governance and organizational structure
from which the Museum should operate.
(6)How to engage the American Latino community
in the development and design of the Museum.
(7)The cost of constructing, operating, and
maintaining the Museum.
(d)Legislation to carry out plan of
actionBased on the
recommendations contained in the report submitted under subsection (a) and the
report submitted under subsection (c), the Commission shall submit for
consideration to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the
House of Representatives, the Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committees on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives and the Senate recommendations for a legislative
plan of action to create and construct the Museum.
(e)In carrying out its functions under this
section, the Commission may convene a national conference on the Museum,
comprised of individuals committed to the advancement of American Latino life,
art, history, and culture, not later than 18 months after the commission
members are selected.
4.Administrative provisions
(a)Facilities and support of department of the
interiorThe Department of
the Interior shall provide from funds appropriated for this purpose
administrative services, facilities, and funds necessary for the performance of
the Commission’s functions. These funds shall be made available prior to any
meetings of the Commission.
(b)Each member of the Commission who is not an
officer or employee of the Federal Government may receive compensation for each
day on which the member is engaged in the work of the Commission, at a daily
rate to be determined by the Secretary of the Interior.
(c)Each member shall be entitled to travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter
57 of title 5, United States Code.
(d)Federal advisory committee
actThe Commission is not
subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
5.Deadline for submission of reports;
termination
(a)The Commission shall submit final versions
of the reports and plans required under section 3 not later than 24 months
after the date of the Commission’s first meeting.
(b)The Commission shall terminate not later
than 30 days after submitting the final versions of reports and plans pursuant
to subsection (a).
6.Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the activities of the Commission
$2,100,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment
of this Act and $1,100,000 for the second fiscal year beginning after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
Passed the House of
Representatives September 27, 2006.
Karen L. Haas,
Clerk.