Yesterday, lawmakers reintroduced a bill to Congress pushing for the creation of the Smithsonian American Latino Museum.
For two years, the advocacy group, Friends of the American Latino Museum, has raised awareness and money to urge Congress to authorize construction of the museum. However, the group would need to gain authorization from Congress and raise at least $325 million in private donations to build it.
“We’re looking for a home for our history, for our culture, for our contributions to this country,” said California Rep. Xavier Becerra on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Becerra is joined by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Sen. Robert Menendez, Sen. Marco Rubio and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who all have sponsored to bill and reintroduced the measure in Congress. Other well-known entertainers who support the museum’s efforts include actress Eva Longoria, actress Rosario Dawson, and producer Emilio Estefan.
Latinos are currently the only major contributor to American civilization not recognized at the museum complex. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen said the Latino community needs further attention.
“We’ve been part of America’s history because we are Americans since our republic’s founding,” said Rep. Ros-Lehtinen.
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