Wednesday, April 05, 2006
REP. BECERRA'S LATINO MUSEUM COMMISSION LEGISLATION CLEARS IMPORTANT HURDLE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Subcommittee on National Parks of the House Committee on Resources held a hearing last Thursday, March 30, on H.R. 2134, the Commission to Establish the National Museum of the American Latino Act, which is sponsored by Representatives Xavier Becerra (CA-31) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). The hearing marked a momentous step toward establishing a National Museum dedicated to Latino history, art and culture.
"For many years, many Americans – of Latino heritage and otherwise – believed that the mosaic of America portrayed in Washington"s museums was missing a few tiles," Rep. Becerra said in his testimony before the subcommittee. "Having a permanent seat at the table would ensure that the world"s largest museum complex and our nation"s premier cultural institutions are as truly reflective of the nation"s people and achievements as they should be."
At the subcommittee hearing, Rep. Steve Pearce (NM-2), chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, declared that as a representative of a state that is 44.7 percent Latino, he was fully aware of the deep roots Latinos have here in the U.S. Chairman Pearce then acknowledged his intention to co-sponsor H.R. 2134.
A day before the hearing, Senators Ken Salazar (CO), Mel Martinez (FL), Robert Menendez (NJ), Orrin Hatch (UT), Jeff Bingaman (NM) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) introduced S.2475, a word-for-word companion bill to H.R. 2134.
When signed into law, the "Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community Act" will set up a 23 member commission charged with producing a national conference to bring stakeholders, experts, policymakers and other interested parties together to discuss the museum"s viability; a fundraising plan to create an extensive public-private partnership; and a report to congress detailing a recommended plan of action on how to move forward with taking the museum from concept to reality. All this will occur within 18 months of the bill"s passage.
"The leadership of the 109th Congress is committed to ensuring that Hispanic Americans continue to seek economic opportunities and achieve prosperity," Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said. "A museum for the Hispanic American community would be keeping with the goals set by the 109th Congress. The National Museum will bring together the nation"s capital as a place that truly exhibits America"s rich cultural diversity."
"Our national museums are educational institutions, as well as premier research facilities and art collections," Rep. Becerra said. "They have great influence over what Americans know and believe about our history and cultural life. Passage of this bill would be just the first step toward making sure America"s cultural institutions provide America and its people a better chance to fully experience what it means to be an American."
To read Rep. Becerra"s full testimony and to learn more about H.R. 2134/S. 2475, please visit the museum home page of Rep. Becerra"s web site at /HOR/CA31/Latino+Museum.htm.
