I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1217 
To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the Smithsonian American 
Latino Museum, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2013 
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 Smithso-
nian American Latino Museum, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Smithsonian American 
Latino Museum Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 
There is established within the Smithsonian Institu-
tion a museum to be known as the ‘‘Smithsonian Amer-
ican Latino Museum’’. 
SEC. 3. LOCATION AND AUTHORIZATION. 
(a) ARTS AND INDUSTRIES BUILDING.—The Arts 
and Industries Building of the Smithsonian Institution, lo-
cated on the National Mall at 900 Jefferson Drive, South-
west, Washington, District of Columbia, including a new 
underground annex facility, is designated as the location 
of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum. 
(b) PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.—The Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Commission of Fine 
Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission, and 
with other appropriate Federal and local agencies, is au-
thorized to prepare plans, design, renovate, rehabilitate, 
and construct the Smithsonian American Latino Museum 
facility, as referred to in the May 2011 Report to Congress 
of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of the American Latino. 
(c) SCHEDULE AND FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Regents is au-
thorized to prepare a plan of action for the Smithso-
nian American Latino Museum, and to identify and 
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evaluate viable funding models for both construction 
and operation of the Museum. 
(2) TIMING.—The plan of action authorized in 
paragraph (1) shall be concluded not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 4. AGREEMENT WITH SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. 
The Secretary of the Interior and the Board of Re-
gents of the Smithsonian Institution shall enter into an 
agreement that— 
(1) allows for the planning, design, and con-
struction of the underground annex facility by the 
Board of Regents, in a manner harmonious with and 
to protect the open space and visual sightlines of the 
Mall; and 
(2) provides a timeline for the transfer of ad-
ministrative jurisdiction, if necessary, of the appro-
priate subsurface area from the Secretary of the In-
terior to the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 5. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF COM-
MISSION. 
In carrying out its duties under this Act, the Board 
of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall take into 
consideration the reports and plans submitted by the Com-
mission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu-
seum of the American Latino under section 333 of the 
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Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (Public Law 
110–229; 122 Stat. 784). 
Æ 
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