III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 23 

Supporting the establishment of a bipartisan Museum Study Commission 

to study the establishment of a National Museum of the American 

People to tell the immigration and migration stories of all people of 

the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 7, 2015 

Mr. SCHATZ submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Supporting the establishment of a bipartisan Museum Study 

Commission to study the establishment of a National 

Museum of the American People to tell the immigration 

and migration stories of all people of the United States. 

Whereas the United States was founded and built by people 

from every country who made the United States the economic, military, scientific, and cultural leader of the 

world; 

Whereas as of October 2015, there is no national museum in 

Washington, DC, that— 

(1) celebrates the making of the people of the 

United States; or 

(2) tells the migration history of any group of people 

to or within the United States; 


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•SCON 23 IS 

Whereas a National Museum of the American People would— 

(1) recount the history of all groups of people who 

came to the United States and the contributions of those 

people to the United States; 

(2) have the theme E Pluribus Unum, the original 

motto of the United States; 

(3) celebrate every ethnic and minority group in the 

United States; 

(4) foster a sense of belonging to the United States; 

(5) contribute to a common national identity as people of the United States; 

(6) highlight the Declaration of Independence and 

the Constitution, the founding documents of the United 

States; 

(7) explore the ways in which those documents 

shaped the character of the people of the United States 

and infused the people of the United States with common 

values; and 

(8) be a resource for State, local, and ethnic museums throughout the United States that present exhibits 

that celebrate the heritage of the people of the United 

States; 

Whereas the people of the United States do not have a comprehensive and accurate picture of the history of all of 

the people who founded and continue to build the United 

States; 

Whereas people from every ethnic group in the United States 

would visit a National Museum of the American People 

to learn their own history and the history of every other 

ethnic group in the United States; 


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•SCON 23 IS 

Whereas a National Museum of the American People would 

attract foreign visitors and dignitaries because few foreigners know the story of the individuals who— 

(1) became citizens of the United States at the 

founding of the country; and 

(2) migrated to the United States from other countries; 

Whereas a museum that tells the story of the making of the 

people of the United States and celebrates all individuals 

who migrated and settled in the United States and the 

territories of the United States belongs near the National 

Mall in Washington, DC; 

Whereas Canada and Mexico have major popular museums 

in, or adjacent to, the capital cities of those countries 

that tell the story of the making of the people of Canada 

and Mexico, respectively; 

Whereas the goals of a National Museum of the American 

People would be— 

(1) to be the best storytelling museum in the world; 

(2) to recount 1 of the most amazing stories in 

human history; 

(3) to celebrate all of the people who have become 

people of the United States; and 

(4) to foster learning at the museum and throughout 

the United States; 

Whereas non-Federal funding sources will be sought to defray 

the costs of a Museum Study Commission to study the 

establishment of a National Museum of the American 

People and the funding will commence on the date on 

which the President signs an Executive order creating the 

bipartisan commission; 


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•SCON 23 IS 

Whereas no Federal appropriations will be sought to provide 

funding for— 

(1) the design, construction, or operation a National 

Museum of the American People; or 

(2) the exhibitions or components of the museum; 

and 

Whereas the National Museum of the American People will 

benefit all people of the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress supports the establishment of 

3 a bipartisan Museum Study Commission to study the es4 tablishment of a National Museum of the American People 

5 to tell the immigration and migration stories of all people 

6 of the United States, if none of the funding to plan, con7 struct, or operate the museum is from Federal appropria8 tions. 

Æ 


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