[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2536-S2537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
        Bingaman, Mrs. Hutchison, and Mr. Menendez):
  S. 2475. 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; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to speak about legislation I am 
introducing today which I believe will enhance the experience of the 
millions of visitors who visit our Nation's Capital every year, and 
will contribute to the ongoing, deeply rewarding, and profoundly 
important process of national self-discovery. As we learn more about 
who we are as Americans, we gain strength from our history and enrich 
our vision for the future.
  In that spirit, together with Senators Martinez, Hatch, Bingaman, 
Hutchison, and Menendez, I have introduced the National Museum of the 
American Latino Community Commission Act. The bill will establish a 
Commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the 
American Latino Community. The Commission members, selected by the 
President and Members of Congress, will be tasked with studying the 
impact of such a Museum, developing a plan of action and a fundraising 
plan, and proposing recommendations to make the Museum a reality.
  I am pleased to be building on the work of several members of 
Congress during the 108th Congress, most notably Senator Hatch and 
Congressman Xavier Becerra.
  On May 10, 2005, Congressman Xavier Becerra re-introduced the 
Commission bill in the House of Representatives with Congresswoman 
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen. Since then, 107 Representatives have lent their 
support to H.R. 2134, and tomorrow, the Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Recreation and Public Lands in the House Resources Committee will meet 
to examine the proposal.
  Washington, DC is more than the seat of our government; it is the 
symbolic heart of our country. When American travel to their Capital, 
they expect the museums, monuments, and national parks they visit to 
reflect the complete American experience. I celebrate the recent 
opening of the National Museum of the American Indian and the 
announcement of the location of the new National Museum of African 
American History and Culture. I believe we must celebrate the diversity 
of our Nation and her rich national heritage.
  Many assume that Hispanics have just arrived on our country's shores. 
But these newly arrived Hispanics are only a small segment of a much 
larger community that has been an integral part of American history 
since before our country was founded.
  Hispanics soldiers fought in the American Revolution alongside 
General George Washington, our first Commander-in-Chief, and have 
served in every subsequent military conflict in which the U.S. has 
fought. During the war that led to our Nation's birth, General 
Washington's army was successful at Yorktown in part because of support 
from a diverse army led by Bernardo de Galvez on a southern front 
against the British, driving them out of the Gulf of Mexico, fighting 
them on the Mississippi and in Florida.
  In the Korean War, 140,000 Hispanic soldiers served. During the 
Vietnam War, more than 80,000 Hispanics served. While Hispanics 
comprised only 4.5 percent of the U.S. population at the time, they 
represented 5.5 percent of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for 
their country. More recently, 20,000 Hispanics took part in Operation 
Desert Shield and Desert Storm. And today, more than 10 percent of the 
United States Armed Forces are Hispanics.
  In sum, we will honor the more than 1.1 million Hispanic veterans 
living in America today, by sharing this long history with all who come 
to our Nation's Capital.
  My own family's story speaks to this truth.
  Over 400 years ago, in 1598, my family helped found the oldest city 
in what is now these United States. They named the city Santa Fe--the 
City of Holy Faith--because they knew the hand of God would guide them 
through the struggles of survival in the ages ahead.
  For the next four centuries, that faith in their future guided them 
to overcome extremely painful and challenging times. As humble and poor 
farmers, the circumstances of their lives forged the priceless and 
timeless values my father Henry and mother Emma instilled in their 
eight children.
  They were indeed a part of our country's greatest generation. My 
mother traveled across the country to work in the Pentagon's War 
Department, and my father was a proud veteran of World War II. In fact, 
one of his last requests was to be buried in his uniform.
  Although neither had a college degree, they taught us about the 
values and promise of America. All eight of their children became first 
generation college graduates, inspired by their

[[Page S2537]]

dedication to God, family, community and country.
  As the National Capital Planning Commission states: ``the memorials 
and museums that define Washington's Monumental Core express America's 
connections to its past and its direction for the future. They help us 
understand what it means to be an American.''
  As a proud American, I want to ensure that every individual who 
visits Washington has a chance to learn the full history of who we are 
and who we are becoming as Americans. It is my hope that the Senate can 
work to pass this important bill that will record and preserve our 
shard American history.
  In the coming months, I will work with the Senate Energy and Natural 
Resource Committee to advance the Commission bill. I look forward to 
speaking with my Senate colleagues about the Commission bill, and hope 
we can take the important step of establishing the Commission.

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