I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2911 
To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of 
the American Latino, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 15, 2017 
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. CURBELO of Florida, Ms. 
MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mrs. 
TORRES, Mr. HURD, Mr. KING of New York, and Mr. NEWHOUSE) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House 
Administration, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, 
and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the National 
Museum of the American Latino, 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 ‘‘National Museum of 
the American Latino Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The United States is a symbol of democ-
racy, freedom, and economic opportunity around the 
world, and the legacy of Latinos is deeply rooted in 
the very fabric of the history, democracy, freedom, 
and economic opportunity of the United States. 
(2) There exists no national museum within the 
Smithsonian Institution that is devoted to the docu-
mentation and explication of Latino life, art, history, 
and culture. 
(3) The establishment of the National Museum 
of the American Latino will be consistent with the 
purposes of the Smithsonian Institution, created by 
Congress in 1846, ‘‘for the increase and diffusion of 
knowledge’’. 
(4) The National Museum of the American 
Latino— 
(A) will be the keystone for people in the 
United States and other Smithsonian Institu-
tion visitors to learn about Latino contributions 
to life, art, history, and culture in the United 
States at its signature location on the National 
Mall; and 
(B) will serve as a gateway for visitors to 
view other Latino exhibitions, collections, and 
programming at other Smithsonian Institution 
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facilities and museums throughout the United 
States and the territories of the United States. 
(5) The National Museum of the American 
Latino will be unique among the museums of the 
Smithsonian Institution in that a significant number 
of the museum’s staff will have joint positions 
throughout the various other museums and research 
centers of the Smithsonian Institution— 
(A) resulting in a decreased need for re-
sources for the National Museum of the Amer-
ican Latino on the National Mall; and 
(B) contributing to an integrated approach 
in telling the story of the United States in ex-
hibits and collections throughout the Smithso-
nian Institution. 
(6) By sharing resources (including funding 
and staff) that are provided by direct appropriation 
to the National Museum of the American Latino and 
resources that are provided to other units of the 
Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of 
the American Latino will serve as a key agent in 
stimulating and increasing Smithsonian Institution 
activities dedicated to the collection, preservation, re-
search, and exhibition of Latino historical and cul-
tural material reflecting the breadth and depth of 
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the experiences of Latino history and culture 
throughout the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BOARD OF REGENTS.—The term ‘‘Board of 
Regents’’ means the Board of Regents of the Smith-
sonian Institution. 
(2) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The term ‘‘Board 
of Trustees’’ means the Board of Trustees of the 
National Museum of the American Latino as estab-
lished by section 5. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Museum of the Amer-
ican Latino. 
(4) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the 
National Museum of the American Latino estab-
lished by section 4. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Smithsonian Institution a museum to be known as the 
‘‘National Museum of the American Latino’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Museum are— 
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(1) to illuminate the story of the United States 
for the benefit of all by featuring Latino contribu-
tions; and 
(2) to provide for— 
(A) the collection, study, research, publica-
tion, and establishment of exhibitions and pro-
grams relating to Latino life, art, history, and 
culture that encompass— 
(i) Latino contributions to the early 
history of what now encompasses the 
United States of America and its terri-
tories; 
(ii) Latino contributions in the armed 
services from the earliest days of the 
American Revolution to current military 
activities in defense of our freedoms; 
(iii) Latino contributions to the free-
dom, well-being, and economic prosperity 
of all people in the United States through 
historical movements; 
(iv) entrepreneurial and charitable ac-
tivities of Latinos; and 
(v) contributions by Latinos to— 
(I) the social, natural, and phys-
ical sciences; and 
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(II) art, history, and culture, in-
cluding food, music, dance, film, the-
ater, sports, and other forms of pop-
ular culture in the United States; and 
(B) collaboration between the Museum, 
other museums and research centers of the 
Smithsonian Institution, and other museums 
and educational institutions throughout the 
United States and abroad, to promote the study 
and appreciation of Latino life, art, history, cul-
ture, and its impact on society in the United 
States, including collaboration concerning joint 
research projects, programs, exhibitions, collec-
tion management, and training of museum 
staff. 
SEC. 5. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 
the Smithsonian Institution a Board of Trustees of the 
Museum with the duties, powers, and authority specified 
in this section. 
(b) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Trustees— 
(A) shall— 
(i) make recommendations to the 
Board of Regents concerning the location, 
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planning, design, and construction of the 
Museum; 
(ii) 
recommend 
annual 
operating 
budgets for the Museum to the Board of 
Regents; 
(iii) adopt bylaws for the Board of 
Trustees; 
(iv) report annually to the Board of 
Regents on the acquisition, disposition, 
and display of Latino collections, objects 
and artifacts, and on other appropriate 
matters; and 
(v) advise and assist the Board of Re-
gents on all matters relating to the admin-
istration, 
operation, 
maintenance, 
and 
preservation of the Museum; and 
(B) may delegate the duties described in 
clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A) to 
the Director. 
(2) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to 
the general policies of the Board of Regents, the 
Board of Trustees shall have the sole authority to— 
(A) purchase, accept, borrow, or otherwise 
acquire artifacts and other objects for addition 
to the collections of the Museum; 
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(B) loan, exchange, sell, or otherwise dis-
pose of any part of the collections of the Mu-
seum, with the proceeds of such transactions to 
be used for additions to the collections of the 
Museum; and 
(C) specify criteria with respect to the use 
of the collections and resources of the Museum, 
including policies on programming, education, 
exhibitions, and research with respect to— 
(i) the life, art, history, culture, and 
other aspects of Latinos in the United 
States and the territories of the United 
States; 
(ii) the role of Latinos in the history 
of the United States from the arrival of 
the first explorers to the Americas to the 
present; 
(iii) the contributions of Latinos to 
society and culture in the United States, 
and exploring what it means to be an 
American; and 
(iv) sharing how values in the United 
States such as resiliency, optimism, and 
spirituality are reflected in Latino history 
and culture. 
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(3) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the 
general policies of the Board of Regents, the Board 
of Trustees shall have authority to— 
(A) provide for preservation, restoration, 
and maintenance of the collections of the Mu-
seum; and 
(B) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts, bequests, and devises of personal and real 
property for the purpose of aiding and facili-
tating the work of the Museum. 
(c) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Trustees shall 
be composed of not more than 19 voting members 
as provided under paragraph (2). 
(2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Board of Trustees 
shall include the following voting members: 
(A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
stitution. 
(B) The Under Secretary of Museums and 
Research of the Smithsonian Institution. 
(C) One member of the Board of Regents, 
appointed by the Board of Regents. 
(D) Two Members of Congress, one from 
each political party, designated by the Congres-
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sional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional 
Hispanic Conference. 
(E) Fourteen individuals who shall be ap-
pointed by the Board of Regents after taking 
into consideration— 
(i) efforts to have a politically and 
geographically diverse representation on 
the Board of Trustees reflecting States 
and territories with significant Latino pop-
ulations; 
(ii) individuals recommended by mem-
bers of the Board of Trustees; and 
(iii) individuals recommended by orga-
nizations and entities that are committed 
to the advancement of knowledge of Latino 
life, art, history, and culture. 
(3) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The Board of 
Regents shall make initial appointments to the 
Board of Trustees under paragraph (2) not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(d) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this 
subsection, each appointed member of the Board of 
Trustees shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. 
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(2) INITIAL
APPOINTEES.—As designated by 
the Board of Regents at the time of appointment, of 
the voting members first appointed under subpara-
graph (E) of subsection (c)(2)— 
(A) five members shall be appointed for a 
term of 1 year; 
(B) five members shall be appointed for a 
term of 2 years; and 
(C) four members shall be appointed for a 
term of 3 years. 
(3) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member of the Board 
of Trustees may be reappointed, except that no indi-
vidual may serve on the Board of Trustees for a 
total of more than 2 full terms. For purposes of this 
paragraph, the number of terms an individual serves 
on the Board of Trustees shall not include any por-
tion of a term for which an individual is appointed 
to fill a vacancy under paragraph (4)(B). 
(4) VACANCIES.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 
Board of Trustees— 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Board of Trustees; and 
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
as the original appointment was made. 
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(B) TERM.—Any member of the Board of 
Trustees appointed to fill a vacancy occurring 
before the expiration of the term for which the 
member’s predecessor was appointed shall be 
appointed for the remainder of that term. 
(e) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a member of the Board of Trustees shall 
serve without pay. 
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the 
Board of Trustees shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for an employee of an agency under sub-
chapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from the home or regular place of 
business of the member in the performance of the 
duties of the Board of Trustees. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—By a majority vote of its voting 
members, the Board of Trustees shall elect a chairperson 
from its members. 
(g) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board of Trustees shall 
meet at the call of the chairperson or on the written 
request of a majority of the voting members of the 
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