[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2475 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2475

   To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of the American Latino Community, to develop a plan of 
 action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of 
    the American Latino Community in Washington, DC, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 29, 2006

 Mr. Salazar (for himself, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. 
 Hutchison, and Mr. Menendez) introduced the following bill; which was 
    read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of the American Latino Community, to develop a plan of 
 action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of 
    the American Latino Community in Washington, DC, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the Potential 
Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community Act of 
2006''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the 
Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino 
Community (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--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) Qualifications.--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 postsecondary 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.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Plan of Action for Establishment and Maintenance of Museum.--
The Commission shall submit a report to the President and Congress 
containing its recommendations with respect to a plan of action for the 
establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of the American 
Latino Community in Washington, DC (referred to in this Act as the 
``Museum'').
    (b) Fundraising Plan.--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) Report on Issues.--The Commission shall examine (in 
consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution), and 
submit a report to the President and 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.
            (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.
    (d) Legislation to Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based 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 
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) National Conference.--In carrying out its functions under this 
section, the Commission shall 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 9 
months after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Facilities and Support of Secretary of the Interior.--The 
Secretary of the Interior shall provide the administrative services, 
facilities, and funds necessary for the performance of the Commission's 
functions.
    (b) Compensation.--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) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall receive 
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.

SEC. 5. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF REPORTS; TERMINATION.

    (a) Deadline.--The Commission shall submit final versions of the 
reports, plans, and recommendations required under section 3 not later 
than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate not later than 30 
days after submitting the final versions of reports, plans, and 
recommendations pursuant to subsection (a).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the 
activities of the Commission $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2007 and 
$1,100,000 for fiscal year 2008.
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