[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 38 (Friday, March 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E316-E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN LATINO MUSEUM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 15, 2013

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Smithsonian 
American Latino Museum Act, a bill that supports the creation of the 
Smithsonian American Latino Museum and whose genesis began 20 years 
ago. I first introduced this bill, with my colleague Rep. Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen, in the 112th Congress.
  While the wonderful museums and monuments on the National Mall 
provide a sense of America's history and treasures, many have felt that 
more must be done to ensure that the contributions of all Americans, 
including those of Latino descent, are better represented.
  The 2010 Census revealed that there are over 50 million Latinos in 
the U.S. plus an additional 3.7 million citizens of Puerto Rico. Even 
with the large and growing Latino population in the our country there 
is still no real significant, permanent representation of Latinos in 
our nation's capital.
  The Latino community first moved to address this issue in 1993. But, 
it was not until 2008 that the Commission to Establish the National 
Museum of the American Latino Act was passed by the House and Senate 
and signed into law. A panel of 23 bipartisan commissioners was 
appointed by President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, House 
leaders Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner, and Senate leaders Harry Reid 
and Mitch McConnell.
  That Commission dedicated itself to creating a comprehensive report 
and a singular vision--one that would reflect the hopes, opinions, 
cultural values, recommendations and insights of Americans of diverse 
origins and geographic regions of the U.S. In 2011, that Commission 
presented its report, Illuminating

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the American Story for All, early and under budget, to the President of 
the United States.
  Since that time, the notion of a Smithsonian American Latino Museum 
has continued to gain support from a diversity of people and places. 
Despite that long-standing support and almost 20 years later, we are 
still not there yet, but we are getting closer.
  To move forward in our effort, the House and Senate must pass the 
Smithsonian American Latino Act. Our bill would do 3 things:
  Designate the now-vacant Arts and Industries Building (AIB) within 
the Smithsonian Institution as the location of the museum, including an 
annex that would be constructed underground and adjacent to the AIB. 
The bill requires that the planning, design and construction of the 
museum be harmonious with open space and visual sightlines of the 
National Mall.
  Provide the Board of Regents 18 months to conduct a study to 
determine the best way to plan, design, fund and construct the Museum 
of the American Latino, taking into account the Commission's report.
  Authorize private fundraising to begin for the planning, designing 
and construction of the museum.
  Upon the bill being passed by both chambers and signed into law by 
the President, the Smithsonian American Latino Museum would be on its 
way to becoming the 20th museum within the Smithsonian Institution, 
forming part of the world's largest museum and research complex.
  Many may ask: at this moment in time how can we afford to create a 
new museum? The better question is how can we not?
  These are challenging times. And in these times, the arts, culture 
and humanities have a distinct role to play in helping unite us during 
episodes of adversity and prepare us to share in the prosperity to 
come. Cultural and historical institutions play a critical role in 
investigating, educating, sharing, celebrating, preserving, and 
convening the American people--as we are doing today--to show that we 
are in this together.
  Mr. Speaker, the Smithsonian Institution was created for the purpose 
of helping increase and diffuse knowledge. It is in that same spirit 
that we seek to advance the Smithsonian American Latino Museum effort. 
Just like the National Museum of American History, the National Museum 
of the American Indian, The National Museum of African American History 
and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, and others, the future 
Smithsonian American Latino Museum will help display America in its 
full bloom.

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