I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3459 

To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the Smithsonian American 

Latino Museum, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 

Mr. BECERRA (for himself and Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and 

in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and 

Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the Smithsonian American Latino Museum, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Smithsonian American 

5 Latino Museum Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 

2 There is established within the Smithsonian Institu3 tion a museum to be known as the ‘‘Smithsonian Amer4 ican Latino Museum’’. 

5 SEC. 3. LOCATION AND AUTHORIZATION. 

6 (a) ARTS AND INDUSTRIES BUILDING.—The Arts 

7 and Industries Building of the Smithsonian Institution, lo8 cated on the National Mall at 900 Jefferson Drive, South9 west, Washington, District of Columbia, including a new 

10 underground annex facility, is designated as the location 

11 of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum. 

12 (b) PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.—The Board of 

13 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in consultation 

14 with the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission of Fine 

15 Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission, and 

16 with other appropriate Federal and local agencies, is au17 thorized to prepare plans, design, renovate, rehabilitate, 

18 and construct the Smithsonian American Latino Museum 

19 facility, as referred to in the May 2011 Report to Congress 

20 of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 

21 National Museum of the American Latino. 

22 (c) SCHEDULE AND FUNDING.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Regents is au24 thorized to prepare a plan of action for the Smithso25 nian American Latino Museum, and to identify and 


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1 evaluate viable funding models for both construction 

2 and operation of the Museum. 

3 (2) TIMING.—The plan of action authorized in 

4 paragraph (1) shall be concluded not later than 18 

5 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 

6 SEC. 4. AGREEMENT WITH SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 

7 The Secretary of the Interior and the Board of Re8 gents of the Smithsonian Institution shall enter into an 

9 agreement that— 

10 (1) allows for the planning, design, and con11 struction of the underground annex facility by the 

12 Board of Regents, in a manner harmonious with and 

13 to protect the open space and visual sightlines of the 

14 Mall; and 

15 (2) provides a timeline for the transfer of ad16 ministrative jurisdiction, if necessary, of the appro17 priate subsurface area from the Secretary of the In18 terior to the Smithsonian Institution. 

19 SEC. 5. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF COM20 MISSION. 

21 In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Board 

22 of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall take into 

23 consideration the reports and plans submitted by the Com24 mission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu25 seum of the American Latino under section 333 of the 


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1 Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 

2 110–229; 122 Stat. 784). 

Æ 


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