House Approves Bill to Build Latino Museum in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday members of the house approved a bill that would establish a National Museum of the American Latino in the nation’s capital. The museum would form part of the Smithsonian Institution.

If the museum is built it would be dedicated to showcasing Latino life, art, history, and culture in America. Currently the institution has museums that focus on natural history, a portrait gallery, and the postal service among many others. 

According to CNN, the passage of the bill has been a work in progress for more than 20 years. Nearly 26 years ago in a report entitled: "Willful Neglect: The Smithsonian Institution and U.S. Latinos," a task force found that Smithsonian museum had displayed a pattern of “excluding and ignoring the presence and contributions of Latino Americans in both its workforce and exhibition halls.”

Nearly 9 years ago, a presidential commission was established to study the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino and the feasibility of said institution.

Danny Vargas, who serves as the chairman of the Friends of the American Latino Museum encouraged lawmakers to support the creation of the museum.

"For over 500 years, the Latino community has been instrumental in the building, shaping and defending of our great nation," said Vargas. "The time has come to commemorate those contributions in a national museum that will illuminate the American story for the benefit of everyone and serve to inspire future generations."

The bill advanced using a voice vote and was led by Democratic Rep. José Serrano of New York. The legislation had by partisan support and 295 cosponsors.

"Today, we reached an important milestone for the Hispanic community with passage of this legislation. After nearly 20 years of work, the National Museum of the American Latino Act was finally considered and approved with overwhelming bipartisan support," said Rep. Serrano, dean of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

"To fully understand American history, we need a museum for the American Latino and Latina," Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd prior to voting for the bill.

"Today is a proud day for the Congress and the Country, as the Democratic House passes the National Museum of the American Latino Act," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. "This long-overdue legislation will celebrate the contributions of generations of Latinos, acknowledging this truth: that Latino history is American history."

Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey introduced the companion bill to the Senate back in May. The Senate has not voted on the bill.

The Smithsonian Institute currently houses 19 museums and several galleries, gardens, and a zoo. The latest addition was the National Museum of African American History and Culture that held its grand opening in 2016.

The following museums are currently part of  the Smithsonian:

• National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
• National Zoo
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National Museum of African Art
• National Air and Space Museum
• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center
• Anacostia Community Museum
• Archives of American Art Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery
• Arts and Industries Building
• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
• Freer Gallery of Art
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Portrait Gallery
• National Postal Museum
• Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
• S. Dillon Ripley Center
• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
• Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
• Smithsonian Gardens