U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member: Finance, Agriculture, Energy, Ethics and Aging Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2007

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Comm. Director
303-455-5999


  Sen. Salazar Re-Introduces Latino Museum Commission Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Ken Salazar, together with Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), re-introduced legislation that would establish a Commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino Community in Washington, D.C. Senator Salazar previously introduced the bill during the 109th Congress as a companion bill to legislation introduced by Congressman Xavier Becerra’s (D-CA) in March 2006. Earlier this year, Congressman Becerra reintroduced the bill (H.R. 512) and today it was passed by the House.

“I believe we must celebrate the diversity of our Nation and Latinos have been a significant part of American history. They have contributed to the arts, business, and served in our Nation's military with distinction,” said Senator Salazar. “This bill would take the first step in commemorating the rich contributions of the Latino community to American life. The end result will be a more enhanced experience for the 20 million visitors that come to our Nation’s capitol to learn the full history of America.”

If signed into law, the National Museum of the American Latino Community Commission Act will create a 23-member commission to lead the effort. The Commission will be charged with: convening within 18 months a national conference to bring stakeholders, experts, policymakers and other interested parties together to discuss the museum's viability; developing a fundraising plan to create an extensive public-private partnership; and submitting to Congress within 24 months of its national conference a detailed report recommending a plan of action for taking the museum from concept to reality.

Other cosponsors of the Senate bill are Senators Hutchison (R-TX), Bayh (D-IN), Biden (D-DE), Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Clinton (D-NY), Domenici (R-NM), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Lieberman (D-CT), Lugar (R-IN), McCain (R-AZ), Nelson (D-FL), Obama (D-IL), Reid (D-NV), Schumer (D-NY), Brown (D-OH) and Feingold (D-WI).

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