I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2134 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 5, 2005 

Mr. BECERRA (for himself, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MARIO DIAZBALART of Florida, Mr. BACA, Mr. BEAUPREZ, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, 

Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. WELLER, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COSTA, Mr. 

CROWLEY, Mr. CUELLAR, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. 

FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, 

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. HONDA, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. LEE, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Ms. MATSUI, Mrs. 

MCCARTHY, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. NADLER, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAYNE, 

Ms. PELOSI, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REYES, Mr. SALAZAR, Ms. LINDA T. 

SA ́NCHEZ of California, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Ms. 

SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. 

STARK, Mr. TOWNS, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. 

UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. 

WEINER, and Mr. WEXLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee 

on House Administration, 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 
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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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the Amer6 ican Latino Community Act of 2005’’. 

7 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis9 sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu10 seum of the American Latino Community (hereafter in 

11 this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

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

13 23 members appointed not later than 6 months after the 

14 date of the enactment of this Act as follows: 

15 (1) The President shall appoint 7 voting mem16 bers. 

17 (2) The Speaker of the House of Representa18 tives, the minority leader of the House of Represent19 atives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the mi-
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1 nority leader of the Senate shall each appoint 3 vot2 ing members. 

3 (3) In addition to the members appointed under 

4 paragraph (2), the Speaker of the House of Rep5 resentatives, the minority leader of the House of 

6 Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, 

7 and the minority leader of the Senate shall each ap8 point 1 nonvoting member. 

9 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 

10 shall be chosen from among individuals, or representatives 

11 of institutions or entities, who possess either— 

12 (1) a demonstrated commitment to the re13 search, study, or promotion of American Latino life, 

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

15 together with— 

16 (A) expertise in museum administration; 

17 (B) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit 

18 or cultural institutions; 

19 (C) experience in the study and teaching of 

20 Latino culture and history at the post-sec21 ondary level; 

22 (D) experience in studying the issue of the 

23 Smithsonian Institution’s representation of 

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

25 or 
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1 (E) extensive experience in public or elect2 ed service; or 

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

4 planning for the establishment of, museums devoted 

5 to the study and promotion of the role of ethnic, ra6 cial, or cultural groups in American history. 

7 SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 

8 (a) PLAN OF ACTION FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND

9 MAINTENANCE OF MUSEUM.—The Commission shall sub10 mit a report to the President and the Congress containing 

11 its recommendations with respect to a plan of action for 

12 the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum 

13 of the American Latino Community in Washington, DC 

14 (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Museum’’). 

15 (b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.—The Commission shall de16 velop a fundraising plan for supporting the creation and 

17 maintenance of the Museum through contributions by the 

18 American people, and a separate plan on fundraising by 

19 the American Latino community. 

20 (c) REPORT ON ISSUES.—The Commission shall ex21 amine (in consultation with the Secretary of the Smithso22 nian Institution), and submit a report to the President 

23 and the Congress on, the following issues: 

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

25 acquired and housed in the Museum. 
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1 (2) The impact of the Museum on regional 

2 Hispanic- and Latino-related museums. 

3 (3) Possible locations for the Museum in Wash4 ington, DC and its environs, to be considered in con5 sultation with the National Capital Planning Com6 mission and the Commission of Fine Arts. 

7 (4) Whether the Museum should be located 

8 within the Smithsonian Institution. 

9 (5) The governance and organizational struc10 ture from which the Museum should operate. 

11 (6) How to engage the American Latino com12 munity in the development and design of the Mu13 seum. 

14 (d) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN OF AC15 TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 

16 report submitted under subsection (a) and the report sub17 mitted under subsection (c), the Commission shall submit 

18 for consideration to the Committee on Transportation and 

19 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Com20 mittee on House Administration of the House of Rep21 resentatives, the Committee on Resources of the House 

22 of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Natural 

23 Resources of the Senate, and the Committees on Appro24 priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
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1 recommendations for a a legislative plan of action to cre2 ate and construct the Museum. 

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

4 functions under this section, the Commission shall convene 

5 a national conference on the Museum, comprised of indi6 viduals committed to the advancement of American Latino 

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

8 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

9 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

10 (a) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OF SECRETARY OF IN11 TERIOR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall provide the 

12 administrative services, facilities, and funds necessary for 

13 the performance of the Commission’s functions. 

14 (b) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis15 sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Gov16 ernment may receive compensation for each day on which 

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

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

19 Interior. 

20 (c) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 

21 travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 

22 in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter 

23 I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 
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1 SEC. 5. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF REPORTS; TERMI2 NATION. 

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

4 versions of the reports and plans required under section 

5 4 not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment 

6 of this Act. 

7 (b) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

8 not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions 

9 of reports and plans pursuant to subsection (a). 

10 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

11 There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying 

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

13 year 2006 and $1,100,000 for fiscal year 2007. 

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