Congressman Panetta Argues in Support of Passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, July 27 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) supported passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, H.R. 2420, of which he is a cosponsor.  The bill will establish a Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos to the United States.  The legislation will now go to the Senate for consideration.



“We know well on the Central Coast the contributions that Latinos have made to our culture, economy, communities, and country.  The bipartisan National Museum of the American Latino Act will share those contributions not just with the nation, but with the world,” said Congressman Panetta.  “The Latino experience should be captured, portrayed, and highlighted in our nation’s museum at the Smithsonian.”



The National Museum of the American Latino Act builds on nearly 16 years’ worth of work in laying the foundation for the establishment of a future museum.  In 2003, the first Congressional bill was introduced to study the creation of a museum.  In 2008, with Presidential and Congressional leadership, a 23-member Commission was established to study the viability of a museum.  In 2011, the Commission’s work culminated in a final report that detailed that the creation of a museum on the National Mall was indeed feasible.  In 2019, this legislation was introduced to act on the Commission’s report and put into motion the process of establishing a Latino Museum, similar to those that established other Smithsonian museums.  The creation of a national American Latino Museum would educate Americans and visitors from around the world on the innumerable contributions that Latinos have made on American history and culture.