Washington, DC — Today, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) opposed the movement to approve the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420) by unanimous consent. The legislation would create the long-overdue museum on the National Mall.
The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only organization dedicated to advocating for a National Latino Museum, issued the following statement:
“We are incredibly disappointed with Senator Mike Lee’s insultingly dismissive, condescending and misguided decision to block our bill to establish a National Museum of the American Latino to commemorate and celebrate over 500 years of American Latino history and contributions to the American story. Our bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent with more than 290 bipartisan cosponsors this summer; and has support from 46 cosponsors from both parties in the Senate, as well.
Latinos across the nation have waited far too long to be represented on the National Mall, and it is disgustingly cruel to make them wait even longer. Latinos, throughout history, have endured, fortified, and overcome countless obstacles. We will continue to do so and will fight to ensure our stories, a critical component of the American story, are told for generations within the halls of our nation’s top institutions. Latinos have made our country what it is today and Senator Lee’s opposition to our bipartisan bill to establish a place of reflection on the history, culture, and contributions of Latinos nationwide is incredibly disheartening, but we stand ready to continue our efforts for this important missing piece of the fabric of our nation.”
Washington, DC — Today, the Senate Rules Committee unanimously voted to approve and advance the National Museum of the American Latino Act, a bill to establish a museum on the National Mall dedicated to honoring the contributions of Latinos throughout American history, out of committee. With broad bipartisan support, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) now urges Senate leadership to bring the legislation to a final vote and send on to the President’s desk.
“We applaud and appreciate the unanimous support of the Senate Rules Committee to advance the bill and open the door for final passage by the full Senate,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “It is a testament to the broad bipartisan nature of this legacy initiative that will illuminate the American story for the benefit of everyone. As we see the finish line within reach of this decades-long process, we are hopeful that we will soon celebrate this bill becoming law so we can begin building a world-class institution we can all be proud of.”
“Today’s action by the Senate Rules Committee is the last procedural hurdle before the full Senate is able to take up and, finally, pass the National American Latino Museum Act,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “This historically bipartisan initiative has overwhelming support grounded in the commitment to tell the full American story, one that serves to bring our nation together united in the contributions, talent and sacrifice that has made our nation great. We look forward to the full Senate’s passage of the National American Latino Museum Act in the coming days.”
As acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution in a 1994 report, Willful Neglect, exhibits and collections of U.S. Latino history are the most underrepresented across all of its museums. In 2011, a presidentially-appointed commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum of the American Latino submitted its report to explore the feasibility of a museum as was recommended in Willful Neglect. The National Museum of the American Latino Act fulfills the report’s recommendations to move forward with the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, and takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today.
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on the National Museum of the American Latino Act (S. 1267), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. The bill has bi-partisan support from 45 cosponsors, and companion legislation passed the House of Representatives in July by unanimous consent. The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the Senate to now take up and pass this legislation. The full hearing can be viewed here.
“As a patriot, I want our country to reach its fullest potential. But to get there, we need to know where we came from,” said Danny Vargas, chairman of the FRIENDS board and a witness during the hearing. “Our mission is to create a museum that illuminates the American story for the benefit of everyone, for a more complete telling of our nation’s history. After passing the House by unanimous consent in July, it is clear that this is far from a partisan issue, and speaks to the heart of what it means to be an American. We urge the Senate to similarly take up and pass the National Museum of the American Latino Act, so that we can begin to fill in the missing pieces of our country’s story.”
“We find it vital that we proudly share our community’s incredible stories, and celebrate a more complete telling of American history,” said Cici Rojas, a member of the FRIENDS board and a witness during the hearing. “The most important message is that the Latino story is the American story. As a nation, we must honor the promise of what our country was built on and what it stands for, and that includes the American Latino community’s contributions.”
“It has been 15 years since a coalition of Latino and Latina advocates gathered to champion the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum and 26 years since the Smithsonian’s Willful Neglect recommendation that the museum be built,” stated FRIENDS President and CEO Estuardo Rodriguez. “As the nation comes out of one of the most divisive political elections in our history, the creation of this museum becomes even more important as it can serve to educate, inform and bring our nation together centered on our shared experiences, sacrifices and commitment to this great nation. We ask that the Senate not miss this opportunity and act to pass the National American Latino Museum Act before the end of this year.”
Latino stories are drastically underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—as acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report. This legislation, led in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward in the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.
Washington, D.C. – Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced this week that on November 17, the Senate Rules Committee will hold a hearing on the National Museum of the American Latino Act (S. 1267), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. The bill has bi-partisan support from 45 cosponsors, and companion legislation passed the House of Representatives in July by unanimous consent. The Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the Senate to take up and pass this legislation.
“In an unprecedented year of challenges and crisis, we have been moved by the bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for a full accounting of our American history that would include over 500 years of patriotic service, business leadership, and scientific and artistic contributions of the Latino community,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, FRIENDS President and CEO. “We are grateful to Senator Cornyn and Chairman Blunt for prioritizing this bill before the Rules Committee, and we look forward to having the full Senate similarly move the National American Latino Museum Act across the finish line by unanimous consent. Embracing and sharing our nation’s history only serves to inspire and bring us closer together.”
“Latinos have been contributing to the fabric of America from its earliest days; helping to build, shape and defend this great nation from the very beginning—and yet we still don’t see those indispensable stories celebrated and on full display on the National Mall,” said Danny Vargas, chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The broad bi-partisan support for this bill demonstrates just how important this museum is to filling the gaps in our history. This is a red, white and blue, patriotic initiative that will enable every American to benefit from a more complete, accurate and enlightening understanding of the foundational and fundamental role Latinos have played in making the USA what it is today. After passing the House by unanimous consent in July, we urge the Senate to similarly take up and pass the National Museum of the American Latino Act so it can be signed into law and so we can begin to fill in the missing pages in our history books.”
Latino stories are drastically underrepresented in the Smithsonian’s collections—acknowledged by the institution itself in its 1994 Willful Neglect report demonstrating a lack of Latino voices and history so severe, it seemed intentional. This legislation, led in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), acts on the report’s recommendations to move forward in the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, a process that follows closely in the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s footsteps. The bill takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today.
(Washington, D.C.) – Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), a national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum proudly announced today that it is entering into a partnership agreement with GoLike, a production and storytelling company co-led by award-winningjournalist and author, Mariana Atencio. With partner, and longtime producer, Mirna Couto, GoLike is dedicated to using multimedia platforms to bring audiences together through positivity. The partnership was announced at a critical time for the American Latino Museum initiative, as it is currently experiencing the largest number of bipartisan and bicameral supporters for the authorization legislation, the National Museum of the American Latino Act.
The partnership will tap into and continue the FRIENDS Latinos Making a Difference (LMD) campaign, a digital initiative to highlight everyday people and leaders in the Latino community who are taking action to help their communities and the nation in the face of the global pandemic.
“We are honored to partner with these incredible Latina journalists and storytellers to expand our narrative and honor the crucial impact of American Latinos today and throughout our nation’s history,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President and CEO of FRIENDS. “Latinos are among the hardest hit by COVID-19, experiencing higher health and economic disparities than the overall U.S. population. Yet, despite these challenges, members of our community continue to show up and do their part to keep the nation moving forward. We owe it to them and future generations to honor their resilience by recording and sharing the stories that will one day live in a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum.”
“From day one, GoLike has been committed to bringing people together through stories,” said Mariana Atencio, co-founder of GoLike. “We aim to show the vibrancy, strength, and diversity of the Latino community in the United States, and look forward to this partnership to shine a light on the stories too often overlooked. In these challenging times, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things, and we are excited to tell their stories.”
“The power of positive storytelling crosses cultures, geographies, and backgrounds to unite us all, despite our differences,” said Mirna Couto, co-founder of GoLike. “GoLike and the Friends of the American Latino Museum understand just how important telling our community’s stories can be, and we are looking forward to what we create together.”
On July 27, 2020, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the National Museum of the American Latino Act with over 290 bipartisan cosponsors. With 43 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, the push for a museum to recognize over 500 years of American Latino history that has been left out of the Smithsonian Institution is closer to becoming a reality than ever before.
Today, Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS) announced a victory in its quarter century-long campaign to establish a museum of American Latino history. The House of Representatives approved the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420), legislation to establish the long-overdue museum on the National Mall dedicated to commemorating the 500 plus years of American Latino contributions to the nation’s military, sciences, economic power, civil rights and the arts.
The bill passed with 295 bipartisan co-sponsors, championed by Representatives José Serrano (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX), and Tony Cardenas (D-CA). The bicameral legislation has 29 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate, and FRIENDS calls on the Senate to support the passage of S.1267, the accompanying Senate bill for a National Museum of the American Latino.
The concept of a National American Latino Museum was originally proposed in a 1994 Smithsonian report entitled “Willful Neglect”. Since that time only one bill has passed in 2008 that established the creation of a commission to study the viability of such a museum. The latest legislation, the National American Latino Museum Act, now takes the next step to authorize the creation of the museum.
“Latinos have been contributing to the building, shaping and defending of our nation since before its founding, but these indispensable stories of American history have largely been absent from our magnificent museums on the national mall,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “More than ever, every American would benefit from a more complete picture of the history of our great country and all the communities who sacrificed to build her. Now we stand at the precipice of enshrining an enduring institution that will fill the missing pages from our history books and inspire countless future generations to come.”
“With support from Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), we call on senators from both sides of the aisle to join us in making history,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “Today, we have the highest number of bipartisan co-sponsors since our efforts began in 1994, with 295 in the House and 29 in the Senate. We are grateful to all the partners and allies who helped bring us a step closer to making the American Latino museum a reality, and now seek the leadership of the Senate to get us over the finish line. With growing support from Members of Congress and the American public, the time to act is now.”
“Today’s vote is a monumental step forward for our campaign and community,” said former congresswoman and FRIENDS board member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “I was proud to introduce the original legislation for a museum as a member of Congress, and I am thrilled today to see my friends and colleagues in the House of Representatives bring that vision even closer to reality.”
“Today’s vote marks an important moment of progress in recognition of Latino contributions to the history, heritage, and culture of the United States,” said Henry R. Munoz III, Chairman of the bipartisan congressional commission to establish a National Museum of the American Latino. “As we wrote in our report to congress nearly 10 years ago, the Mall, more than any other public space in our country does indeed tell the story of America, and yet that story is not complete. Today we take a step forward as we send this bill to the United States Senate to illuminate the American story for all at a moment when cultural understanding is more important than ever to our country. We look forward to working with the Senate and the administration to add to the Smithsonian’s mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge for everyone.”
As acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution in a 1994 report, Willful Neglect, Latinos are the most underrepresented ethnic group across all of its museums. The National Museum of the American Latino Act will take an important step towards righting the disparities outlined in the report and establish a museum dedicated to representing the history of American Latinos.
(Washington, D.C.) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced this week that on Monday, July 27, the House of Representatives will advance the National Museum of the American Latino Act (H.R. 2420), which would establish a museum in the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of over 500 years of American Latino history. With 295 bipartisan Members of Congress already in support, the Friends of the American Latino Museum (FRIENDS), the only national advocacy campaign striving for the creation of a Smithsonian National American Latino Museum, urges the full House to support the passage of this legislation.
“For over 500 years, the Latino community has been instrumental in the building, shaping and defending of our great nation,” said Danny Vargas, Chairman of the FRIENDS board. “The time has come to commemorate those contributions in a national museum that will illuminate the American story for the benefit of everyone and serve to inspire future generations.”
“This legislation takes an important step towards righting the ongoing disparities in our nation’s museums that remain today,” said Estuardo Rodriguez, President & CEO of FRIENDS. “The widespread support demonstrates just how important this museum is in filling the gaps in our history. We thank our allies and partners in the House, Representatives José Serrano (D-NY), Will Hurd (R-TX),and Tony Cardenas (D-CA) for their leadership in championing this legislation, and bringing us to historic milestones in our mission to see the contributions from generations of American Latinos recognized in the Smithsonian Institution.”
As acknowledged by the Smithsonian Institution in a 1994 report, Willful Neglect, exhibits and collections of U.S. Latino history are the most underrepresented across all of its museums. The National Museum of the American Latino Act would establish a museum dedicated to representing those stories and figures from American Latino history currently absent from the institution.
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Jesus Contreras, 26, is a DACA recipient and paramedic in Houston, Texas. He helped fight Hurricane Harvey three years ago and says COVID-19 is a far bigger threat.
Contreras told USA TODAY, “We haven’t seen its full potential yet.” Despite the increased risks that come with his line of work, he continues to proudly serve his community every day. Contreras is one of about 27,000 DACA recipients working as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other health care workers. Do you know #LatinosMakingADifference? Share their story with us at https://americanlatinomuseum.org/LMD/.
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Wendy Ramirez, Founder of fashion brand Intimalena, began selling face masks amidst COVID-19. In April, she raised $6,000 in sales and donated 50 percent to the Farmworkers COVID-19 Relief Fund to help frontline heroes. She continues to donate 50 percent of sales to important causes.
Do you know a Latino Making a Difference on the frontlines of COVID-19 relief efforts? Submit their story at https://americanlatinomuseum.org/LMD/.
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As a small business owner, Luciana Gomez faced significant challenges after closing her coffee shop Café Victoria Dallas due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
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