[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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