Bipartisan Leaders in Congress Introduce Legislation to Designate a Location on the National Mall for the American Latino Museum
The Friends of the American Latino Museum calls on Congress to Support and Pass the Bill this Year
The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only organization dedicated to the creation of a national Smithsonian American Latino Museum in our nation’s capital, applauds yesterday’s introduction of the bipartisan Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act in the Senate, by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and in the House by Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). The bill demonstrates that this Congress considers the preservation of American Latino history a priority.
The bipartisan Commission of the National Museum of the American Latino, a body appointed by Congress and Presidents Bush and Obama, recommended the Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. as the future location of the proposed museum in their final report in 2011. The bi-partisan bill, which requires zero funding, provides the Smithsonian Institution and the Department of Interior with the authority to create a fundraising and construction model over the next 18-months.
“The Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act reflects the interest of bi-partisan members of Congress to acknowledge that the Latino community as a significant contributor to the history of our country. The Arts and Industries building is flanked by the Smithsonian Art, Science, History, and Cultural museums. It is an appropriate location to recognize a community that is critical to our American history,” said Cid Wilson, Board Chair of the Friends of the American Latino Museum. “We thank Senators Robert Menendez, Harry Reid and Marco Rubio and Representatives Xavier Becerra and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership and we urge their colleagues in Congress to join us and support the bill.»
The Arts and Industries Building is an idyllic location for the American Latino Museum. It is located on the National Mall near many other museums and attractions, and it is an illustration of history itself as it is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.The full bill and announcement can be found here.
Follow the progress of this legislation on Twitter @LatinoMuseum and tweet your support for the Smithsonian American Latino Museum Act with #LatinoMuseum.
