[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1640-S1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
        Bayh, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
        Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, 
        Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. McCain, Mr. 
        Nelson of Florida, Mr. Obama, Mr. Reid, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Brown, 
        Mr. Feingold, and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 500. A bill 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; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise to speak about bi-partisan 
legislation I am introducing today. I am proud to be joined by Senator 
Mel Martinez, Senator Bob Menendez, and 20 additional Senators from 
both sides of the aisle.
  The National Museum of the American Latino Community Commission Act 
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 and the cost of 
constructing and maintaining a museum, developing a plan of action and 
a fundraising plan, and proposing recommendations to make the Museum a 
reality.
  As we begin our efforts to pass this significant legislation, the 
U.S. House of Representatives is set to complete their consideration of 
H.R. 512, the House companion bill, and will pass the bill on the House 
floor today. It has been a pleasure to working with Representative 
Xavier Becerra and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who have 
championed this legislation for several years. I hope to work with the 
Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee to quickly advance the 
Senate bill, so that we can, at last, move forward.
  If we are successful in our efforts, I believe we will have done our 
part to enhance the experience of the millions who visit our Nation's 
capital every year. By passing this legislation, we will contribute to 
the ongoing, deeply rewarding, and profoundly important process of 
national self-discovery.
  Washington, DC is the symbolic heart of our country. When Americans 
travel to their capital, they expect the museums, monuments, and 
national parks they visit to reflect the complete American experience. 
I celebrate the opening of the National Museum of the America Indian 
and efforts underway to establish the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture because I believe we must celebrate our 
rich, diverse national heritage.
  Hispanics have long been a part of our country's history and my own 
family's story illustrates 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. In Hispanic 
Pioneers in Colorado and New Mexico, a new book by Colorado Society of 
Hispanic Genealogy, their triumph over extreme adversity is documented. 
The time has come for the story of these pioneers to be told in our 
Nation's capital.
  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 
as Americans. It is my hope that the Senate can work to pass this 
important bill. In doing so, we will preserve our shared America 
history.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 500

       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 (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 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 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 (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 
     Congress on, the following issues:
       (1) The availability and cost of collections to be acquired 
     and housed in the Museum.

[[Page S1641]]

       (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 Committees on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and 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 enactment of this Act 
     and $1,100,000 for the second fiscal year beginning after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______