II 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2475 

To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National 

Museum of the American Latino Community, to develop a plan of action 

for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of the 

American Latino Community in Washington, DC, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2006 

Mr. SALAZAR (for himself, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. HATCH, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, and Mr. MENENDEZ) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation 

of a National Museum of the American Latino Community, to develop a plan of action for the establishment 

and maintenance of a National Museum of the American 

Latino Community in Washington, DC, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study 

3 the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the Amer4 ican Latino Community Act of 2006’’. 

5 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis7 sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu8 seum of the American Latino Community (referred to in 

9 this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

10 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of 

11 23 members appointed not later than 6 months after the 

12 date of the enactment of this Act as follows: 

13 (1) The President shall appoint 7 voting mem14 bers. 

15 (2) The Speaker of the House of Representa16 tives, the minority leader of the House of Represent17 atives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the mi18 nority leader of the Senate shall each appoint 3 vot19 ing members. 

20 (3) In addition to the members appointed under 

21 paragraph (2), the Speaker of the House of Rep22 resentatives, the minority leader of the House of 

23 Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, 

24 and the minority leader of the Senate shall each ap25 point 1 nonvoting member. 


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1 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 

2 shall be chosen from among individuals, or representatives 

3 of institutions or entities, who possess either— 

4 (1) a demonstrated commitment to the re5 search, study, or promotion of American Latino life, 

6 art, history, political or economic status, or culture, 

7 together with— 

8 (A) expertise in museum administration; 

9 (B) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit 

10 or cultural institutions; 

11 (C) experience in the study and teaching of 

12 Latino culture and history at the postsecondary 

13 level; 

14 (D) experience in studying the issue of the 

15 Smithsonian Institution’s representation of 

16 American Latino art, life, history, and culture; 

17 or 

18 (E) extensive experience in public or elect19 ed service; or 

20 (2) experience in the administration of, or the 

21 planning for the establishment of, museums devoted 

22 to the study and promotion of the role of ethnic, ra23 cial, or cultural groups in American history. 


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1 SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 

2 (a) PLAN OF ACTION FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND

3 MAINTENANCE OF MUSEUM.—The Commission shall sub4 mit a report to the President and Congress containing its 

5 recommendations with respect to a plan of action for the 

6 establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of 

7 the American Latino Community in Washington, DC (re8 ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Museum’’). 

9 (b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.—The Commission shall de10 velop a fundraising plan for supporting the creation and 

11 maintenance of the Museum through contributions by the 

12 American people, and a separate plan on fundraising by 

13 the American Latino community. 

14 (c) REPORT ON ISSUES.—The Commission shall ex15 amine (in consultation with the Secretary of the Smithso16 nian Institution), and submit a report to the President 

17 and Congress on, the following issues: 

18 (1) The availability and cost of collections to be 

19 acquired and housed in the Museum. 

20 (2) The impact of the Museum on regional 

21 Hispanic- and Latino-related museums. 

22 (3) Possible locations for the Museum in Wash23 ington, DC and its environs, to be considered in con24 sultation with the National Capital Planning Com25 mission and the Commission of Fine Arts. 


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1 (4) Whether the Museum should be located 

2 within the Smithsonian Institution. 

3 (5) The governance and organizational struc4 ture from which the Museum should operate. 

5 (6) How to engage the American Latino com6 munity in the development and design of the Mu7 seum. 

8 (d) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN OF AC9 TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 

10 report submitted under subsection (a) and the report sub11 mitted under subsection (c), the Commission shall submit 

12 for consideration to the Committee on Transportation and 

13 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Com14 mittee on House Administration of the House of Rep15 resentatives, the Committee on Resources of the House 

16 of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural 

17 Resources of the Senate, and the Committees on Appro18 priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 

19 recommendations for a legislative plan of action to create 

20 and construct the Museum. 

21 (e) NATIONAL CONFERENCE.—In carrying out its 

22 functions under this section, the Commission shall convene 

23 a national conference on the Museum, comprised of indi24 viduals committed to the advancement of American Latino 


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1 life, art, history, and culture, not later than 9 months 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

4 (a) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OF SECRETARY OF

5 THE INTERIOR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall pro6 vide the administrative services, facilities, and funds nec7 essary for the performance of the Commission’s functions. 

8 (b) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis9 sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Gov10 ernment may receive compensation for each day on which 

11 the member is engaged in the work of the Commission, 

12 at a daily rate to be determined by the Secretary of the 

13 Interior. 

14 (c) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com15 mission shall receive travel expenses, including per diem 

16 in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provi17 sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

18 States Code. 

19 SEC. 5. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF REPORTS; TERMI20 NATION. 

21 (a) DEADLINE.—The Commission shall submit final 

22 versions of the reports, plans, and recommendations re23 quired under section 3 not later than 18 months after the 

24 date of enactment of this Act. 


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1 (b) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

2 not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions 

3 of reports, plans, and recommendations pursuant to sub4 section (a). 

5 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

6 There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying 

7 out the activities of the Commission $2,100,000 for fiscal 

8 year 2007 and $1,100,000 for fiscal year 2008. 

Æ 


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