Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act to build a new Smithsonian museum on the National Mall that recognizes the accomplishments of Latinos. This follows the passage of bipartisan legislation that establishes a Latino history museum, which was signed into law in December 2020.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act is led by Senators Padilla, Cruz, Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). The bill was introduced in conjunction with the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, led by Senator Klobuchar and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and cosponsored by Senators Padilla and Cortez Masto.

“Latinos have been at the heart of U.S. history for hundreds of years, shaping American culture, communities, and business,” said Senator Padilla. “As the first Latino elected to represent California in the United States Senate, I intimately understand the immense contributions and accomplishments Latinos have made to our nation — and the barriers we have had to overcome. The story of the American Latino, and the simultaneous fight for equality by American women, should be enshrined on the National Mall, the tapestry of the United States. Legislation to establish the Smithsonian Museums of the American Latino and National Women’s History was signed into law five years ago, and it’s past time we clear the way to make this bipartisan priority a reality.”

“We are taking the first step in righting a historic wrong and casting light on overlooked and forgotten parts of American history,” said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “I have long been a champion of adding a Latino History Museum as well as a Women’s History Museum to the National Mall and I am proud to stand with Congresspeople on both sides of the aisles to try and make this dream a reality. Honoring the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos should not be political – it is about our constituents, ancestors, and our great Nation’s history. I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to sign onto these bills.”

“Women and Latinos have done so much for our nation, and those contributions – our story, the American story – deserve to be told and honored,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure the accomplishments of the Latinos and women who have truly made America great can be showcased in their very own Smithsonian museums.”

In order to allow the National Museum of the American Latino — a museum that President Trump signed into law in 2020 — to be built on the National Mall, Congress must pass legislation to provide a waiver from the Commemorative Works Act.

Specifically, the waiver would:

• Allow the Smithsonian to build the Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall Reserve, and
• Require the National Park Service to transfer the land and avoid a lengthy environmental review process, which could result in significant delay. The Smithsonian will still eventually have to undertake its own environmental review before construction can begin.
• The legislation does not require new federal spending from taxpayers; it simply allows for land designation.

After 18 months of a site selection process that evaluated over 25 sites, the Smithsonian Board of Regents recommended two sites — the Tidal Basin site for the National Museum of the American Latino and the South Monument site for the American Women’s History Museum. A map of the sites is available here.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act is endorsed by multiple organizations including FRIENDS of the National Museum of the American Latino, the American Latino Veterans Association, the Latino Coalition, the Hispanic 100, and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

“FRIENDS celebrates the introduction of legislation that would give the Smithsonian the authority to build the National Museum of the American Latino on the National Mall,” said Estuardo V. Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS of the National Museum of the American Latino. “This 30-year campaign has come with many challenges, but we remain committed to working with Congress to ensure continued bipartisan support to get this bill signed into law this year.”

“There are countless exhibits paying respect to our troops throughout Smithsonian museums, but having a National Museum of the American Latino provides us an opportunity to celebrate our Latino service members and veterans,” said Danny Vargas, CEO and founder of the American Latino Veterans Association. “Latinos have been involved in every major war since the birth of this country. I applaud the Senate for understanding the need for this museum that will honor our men and women in uniform.”

“This museum represents a recognition of these contributions, and it will inspire our community to be even more invested and engaged. It will also serve as a recognition that Hispanics have been in the U.S. since 1492,” said Carlos F. Orta, President & CEO, the Latino Coalition. “We thank this bipartisan group of Senators for introducing this legislation and bringing the museum one step closer to the National Mall.”

“Preserving and celebrating the stories and culture of Latinos is essential. For too long, we have gone without a museum on the National Mall sharing our history,” said the Hispanic 100. “This legislation will allow for our stories to be told in the heart of our nation’s capital alongside other Smithsonian institutions. We are proud to support this bill and look forward to the inevitable opening the National Museum of the American Latino.”

“Ever since our nation’s colonial period, generations of Hispanic entrepreneurs have contributed enormously to American innovation and economic growth,” said the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “Our hard work and resilience have helped build the American Dream of prosperity and these historic contributions deserve to be shared and celebrated on the National Mall.”

“From the introduction of the Commission bill I co-led with Congressman Xavier Becerra to the passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, this effort has always been bipartisan. Today, I am grateful for the leadership of Senators Ted Cruz and Bernie Moreno on this bill,” said former Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “It will take members from both sides of the aisle to come together and get this bill across the finish line.”

A one-pager on the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino is available here.

Full text of the Latino museum bill is available here.

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