[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1222-H1225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMISSION TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL CREATION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF 
                    THE AMERICAN LATINO ACT OF 2007

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 512) to establish the Commission to Study the Potential 
Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino to develop a 
plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National 
Museum of the American Latino in Washington, DC, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 512

       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 the National Museum of the American 
     Latino Act of 2007''.

     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 (hereafter in this Act referred to 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 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.

     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 the Congress containing its recommendations 
     with respect to a plan of action for the establishment and 
     maintenance of a National Museum of the American Latino in 
     Washington, DC (hereafter in this Act referred to 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 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 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 Rules and 
     Administration of the Senate, the Committee on Natural 
     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 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.

     SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

       (a) Facilities and Support of Department of the Interior.--
     The 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) 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 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 Act.--The Commission is not 
     subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
     Act.

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

       (a) Deadline.--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) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate not later 
     than 30 days after submitting the final versions of reports 
     and plans 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 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. 
McMorris Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 512, 
which was introduced by my colleague from California, Representative 
Becerra.
  The legislation directs the establishment of a commission to study 
the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino, to 
be located here in Washington, D.C. The commission will be composed of 
23 qualified individuals, with seven appointed by the President and the 
remainder appointed by the majority and minority leadership of the 
House and Senate.
  Under H.R. 512, the commission would be required to prepare a plan of 
action for the establishment and maintenance of the museum, including 
recommendations for a legislative plan of action to create and 
construct the museum. The commission's plan would be due not later than 
24 months after the date of the commission's first meeting.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 512. 
Given the contributions that American Latinos have made and continue to 
make to the cultural and social history of the United States, this is a 
most fitting measure.

                              {time}  1245

  The legislation was the subject of hearings in the House last 
Congress, and I would note that a nearly identical measure passed the 
House on September 27, 2006.
  As the face of this Nation is represented by many people, the museum 
would be an opportunity for all of

[[Page H1223]]

America to look at the diversity, to appreciate the many peoples that 
make up this great country of ours.
  And I want to take this opportunity to also commend and congratulate 
my colleague from California, Xavier Becerra, for his leadership on 
this matter. He has worked very hard with many parties to bring this 
legislation to fruition.
  Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 512 and urge the adoption of 
the legislation by the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 512, 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Latinos have played an integral part in American history since the 
founding of the United States. In fact, they were on the continent for 
more than two centuries prior to the signing of the Declaration of 
Independence. Despite the growth of Latino inclusion programs at the 
Smithsonian over the past decade, supporters of H.R. 512 believe that 
the ``mosaic portrayed in the Washington museums'' is incomplete 
without a museum dedicated to the community.
  This bill passed the House in the 109th Congress, but we have 
concerns that this legislation requires the Secretary of the Interior 
to provide administrative services, facilities and funds for the 
operation of the commission. In a hearing on the bill, the National 
Park Service testified that the commission would fit better at the 
General Services Administration, whose mission is well suited to serve 
the commission. If the bill had been crafted this way, it would have 
enabled the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide its 
expertise on these issues.
  Despite these concerns, I support the bill, commend the authors, 
including Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for her persistence and 
hard work in helping craft this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I would like again to commend Congressman 
Xavier Becerra of California for bringing H.R. 512 before us and yield 
him as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the 
committees of jurisdiction for helping move this legislation forward 
quickly.
  Last session what we found was that we just ran out of time. This 
bill passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives, not a 
single opposing vote, and we came very, very close in the Senate to 
having this actually go to the desk of the President, where I am sure 
he would have signed it. Unfortunately, time became the enemy. And I 
hope that now, moving this quickly through the process, we will be able 
to give the Senate the time it needs to move through its process as 
well.
  I want to thank my colleague and friend from Florida, Ms. Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, for her tireless efforts on behalf of this legislation. She 
and I have served as a, I hope, dynamic duo in trying to move this 
forward with all our colleagues who were supporting this legislation.
  Many us believe that there is no place on this Earth like the 
National Mall that we have here in Washington, D.C. If anyone from Mars 
were to come and ask what is it like to be an American, I would send 
them directly to the National Mall and say, go through the museums that 
we have at the Smithsonian. Take a look at the various artifacts that 
give you a sense of our culture, our history, our heritage as a Nation; 
and you will have a better sense of what it means to be an American 
after that walk. It would probably take you a few weeks if you want to 
go through all the different museums, but you will have a better sense 
of what it means to be an American than, I think, if you go anywhere 
else in this world.
  The only problem I have, and the only disappointment I have, is that 
you don't get the full picture of what it has meant to be an American. 
We have moved forward to try to take care of that over the years. We 
have a museum that recently opened in the last 4 or 5 years that will 
help us better understand what it has meant to be a Native American in 
this country. We are going to put shovel in ground very soon in trying 
to help America understand the history and the plight of many Americans 
of African descent who have come into this country and the generations 
that have followed, and what it means to be African American in this 
country.
  I hope, at some point, this commission will report back to us on what 
best we can do as a Nation to make sure that when someone does walk 
through the Mall of the Capital and visits those precious museums that 
we have, that they will have that symphony and that understanding that 
comes from visiting those tremendous facilities of what it means to be 
an American and what it is to be proud of our American history and 
culture.
  This legislation, which has the support, I am very glad to say, of a 
bipartisan group of Members in the House, should help us get a sense 
from the experts, not politicians, not people who have no real 
understanding of this, but from the experts of whether or not there is 
value in moving forward the idea of trying to have a place where we 
have resided within it, the culture, the experience, the history, the 
art, the heritage of Americans of Latino descent.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding me the 
time; thank the two committees of jurisdiction and certainly all the 
cosponsors of this legislation, but principally to my colleague in 
crime here, the Congresswoman from Florida, Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), a coauthor 
of the legislation.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I rise in strong support today, Mr. Speaker, of 
H.R. 512, the commission to study the potential creation of a National 
Museum of the American Latino Community Act. And I would like to thank 
my dear friend, Mr. Becerra of California, for his commitment in 
bringing this important legislation to the floor. We have been working 
on it for a number of years. It has got strong bipartisan support, and 
it has been a delight for me to have worked with him and members of my 
staff to have worked with his staff as well.
  As the Republican lead on this legislation, I am so pleased that this 
bill will take the next step in developing a plan of action for an 
establishment of a National Museum of the American Latino.
  The commission would be comprised of experts in art and museum 
administration, as well as individuals with experience in the 
development of similar cultural institutions. The commission would have 
the responsibility of examining and reporting to Congress and the 
President a plan to establish a new national museum.
  Even as the largest minority group in the United States, Hispanic 
Americans, are not fully represented by one of the permanent exhibits 
in Washington's museums, currently there are over 42 million Hispanics 
in the United States. Furthermore, the Census Bureau estimates that in 
the year 2050, the Hispanic population in the U.S. will reach over 100 
million.
  As we can see, Hispanic Americans are our country's largest and 
fastest growing minority group, and they continue to expand and 
contribute to the greatness of our wonderful country.
  As the first Hispanic American woman elected to Congress, I am so 
proud to advance the issues affecting all citizens living in our great 
country. I have been proud to represent my diverse south Florida 
constituency for many years now in Congress, and I look forward to a 
future that is, indeed, bright for individuals across our terrific 
country.
  Hispanic Americans are playing an increasing role also in the 
Nation's economy and in our workforce. For example, according to the 
Office of Management and Budget, the unemployment rate among the 
Hispanic community dropped to 4.7, an all-time record low. This 
statistic demonstrates that the economic policies of lower taxes and 
less government regulations are working and that all Americans are 
benefiting from it.
  The great diversity of ethnicities and nationalities of the many 
people of the United States is what makes our Nation strong, is what 
continues to be a home for many different cultures; and this national 
museum will signify our strong commitment to proudly exhibit America's 
rich cultural diversity.

[[Page H1224]]

  Therefore, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in support of this 
important legislation to ensure that visitors to our Nation's Capital 
gain a more complete understanding of who we are as Americans.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield as much 
time as he may consume to my good friend from California (Mr. Baca), 
for remarks on H.R. 512, in which he has been a participant and a hard 
worker getting the legislation to this point.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for 
allowing me the time to say a few words. And I want to raise my strong 
voice in support of H.R. 512. This is important legislation that would 
establish a commission to study the potential creation of a National 
Museum of the American Latino.
  And I want to thank my good friend, Xavier Becerra, for sponsoring 
this bill and championing this cause, which is of great significance to 
many Hispanics, Latinos throughout the Nation, throughout the country, 
including myself.
  This is a bipartisan legislation that basically asks for a study to 
create a National Museum of the American Latino. Bipartisan.
  Currently, there are over 45 million Latinos in the United States, 
including Puerto Rico. The social, cultural and economic contributions 
of Latinos in the United States have an important history, an important 
history, and are growing daily. We must realize that.
  American Latinos are natives to many different parts of the world. 
Some are from Puerto Rico, some are from South America, while others 
have roots and ties to Mexico. But while we hail from different 
countries, including from right here in the United States, we have 
different backgrounds, and many of us share a similar experience and a 
wealth of common values.
  A national museum of the American Latino will help share this 
experience and the values not only with Latinos, but with all. It will 
be a sense of pride, tradition, culture and arts that would be 
exhibited to all Americans to see, all individuals.
  I urge my colleagues to cast a vote in favor and understanding of 
heritage of all Americans and support this legislation.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the ranking Republican of the Committee on House 
Administration, which also has jurisdiction over the bill, the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 512, which 
establishes a commission to study the possible creation of a national 
museum of the American Latino community. As you know, this bill mirrors 
H.R. 2134, which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 
in the last Congress and which I was pleased to guide through that 
committee and present to the House for passage on September 27 of last 
year. It is only our regret that it did not pass the Senate.
  The Latino American community is often recognized for its rich 
traditions, its sense of community, and deeply rooted beliefs which are 
woven throughout the fabric of American history. As the Nation's 
fastest growing ethnic community, the Latino population in America has 
more than doubled in size in the last 10 years to over 40 million, and 
continues to grow.
  The creation of a national museum of the American Latino community 
would enable Latino Americans to tell their story in their own words 
and would create a destination for students, families and visitors that 
would accurately depict Latino American history.
  In order to explore the possibility of creating such a museum, the 
legislation before us specifies that a commission be created with 23 
members, seven of whom would be appointed by the President, and three 
voting and are non-voting. Each would be appointed by the Speaker, the 
House Republican leader, the Senate majority leader, and the Senate 
Republican leader.
  Once appointed, the commissioners would assess the cost of the 
museum, its impact on other Hispanic and Latino-related museums, 
identify a possible location for the museum, and propose guidelines on 
the museum's operation. The commission would also work closely with the 
Latino American community during the design and development phase to 
ensure that the museum accurately captures the Latino American 
experience.
  I urge my colleagues to, once again, support this important 
legislation which is the first step in creating a national museum of 
the American Latino community that will serve as a testament to the 
vibrant history and tradition of Latino Americans. And I would just be 
delighted to eventually see this constructed.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, at the risk of being the skunk at the garden party, 
I would like to add a postscript expressing my concern about the 
proliferation of museums on the Mall and what this may do to the Mall. 
As you recall, the Mall was designed many, many years ago as a 
gathering place for America, and it has nobly served that purpose. I 
believe it is very important that we, in building any additional 
museums, not impinge on that intent.

                              {time}  1300

  So establishing location is I think going to be one of the most 
difficult parts of the work of this Commission, and I wish them well. 
But I think it is extremely important that we preserve the National 
Mall as the gathering place for America and make certain that any 
additional buildings on the Mall fit well with that purpose.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, as chairwoman of the Committee 
on House Administration, which shares jurisdiction over H.R. 512 with 
the Committee on Natural Resources, I urge my colleagues to move 
quickly so that the bill can become law this year and we can begin the 
process of planning a National Museum of the American Latino here in 
Washington, D.C.
  I congratulate Representative Becerra and Representative Ros-Lehtinen 
for their leadership in introducing this legislation and for their hard 
work in pushing it successfully through the House last year.
  Persons of Hispanic, or Latino, descent have lived in the Western 
Hemisphere for 500 years. In the United States, they have become the 
largest minority group, and their impact will only grow stronger in the 
future. The culture of the Americas reflects a unique mixture of what 
was brought from Europe, inherited from the indigenous Native 
Americans, contributed by Africans forced to come here during the era 
of slavery, and stirred in the melting pot of interaction with later 
immigrants from all around the world.
  I am pleased to support consideration of a Latino Museum which I hope 
would undertake serious scholarly research, as well as create and 
display exhibits to tell the story of the American Latino to an ever 
growing population which will be increasingly exposed to such cultural 
influences in the years ahead. This is a project which all Americans 
can enthusiastically embrace.
  Our Committee on House Administration worked for years with the 
gentleman from Georgia, Representative John Lewis, to establish the 
Smithsonian African American Museum which finally became law in 2003. 
That legislation worked its way through Congress over a period of 17 
years, passed the House and the Senate in different forms during that 
time, and then was successfully revived and studied by a Commission 
appointed by the President and Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, that Commission worked through 2002 and early 2003 to 
compile information and recommendations for Congress to use in 
considering whether to finally establish the museum, and in what form. 
While we did not accept all of the Commission's recommendations, I 
found that it provided invaluable focus and momentum in moving the 
project forward.
  H.R. 512, and any future legislation to establish a new museum which 
may spring from it, will hopefully enjoy a less tortuous path to a 
successful conclusion. The Commission to be created relating to the 
Museum of the American Latino is largely patterned after the African 
American Museum Commission, and this time we are considering 
establishing the Commission at the beginning of the process of studying 
a museum rather than near the end.
  The new Commission will examine, among other issues, whether this new 
museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, as is the new 
African American Museum. The Smithsonian has unique expertise in both 
museum governance and successfully presenting information which tells a 
story in both educational and entertaining ways.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong 
support of H.R. 512, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of 
the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007, which would 
recognize the tremendous cultural contributions of the American Latino 
community.

[[Page H1225]]

  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 512, which would 
create a 23 member commission responsible for developing a plan of 
action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of 
the American Latino in Washington, DC. Specifically, this commission 
would be tasked with bringing experts, policymakers, and other 
interested parties together to discuss a viable blueprint for the 
museum. The commission would also design a public-private partnership 
to fund the museum. These recommendations would be reported to Congress 
within 24 months of the bill being signed into law.
  During my tenure as Ranking Member of the House Administration 
Committee in the 108th Congress, the committee held a long overdue 
hearing on this legislation. In the 109th Congress, I was a cosponsor 
of this legislation and it passed in the House by a voice vote on 
September 27, 2006. Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to pass this 
bill before the adjournment of the 109th Congress.
  The Latino population in the United States is estimated at 42.7 
million, making the community the fastest growing group in the country. 
They also have a rich heritage in this country that is worth 
celebrating. I am hopeful that we can finally get this bill to the 
President's desk for signature and get the process underway for 
establishing this important museum. As a former high school history 
teacher, I believe that passage of this legislation is crucial in 
educating all Americans of our nation's cultural diversity.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 512, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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