Bill Creating National Museum of the American Latino Moves Through Haaland’s Subcommittee

Washington, D.C. – Today, a bill creating the National Museum of the American Latino moved through Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s subcommittee. Haaland, who is a proud co-sponsor of the bill, chaired the hearing featuring Dolores Huerta and Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte. The National Museum of the American Latino Act, introduced by Rep. Jose Serrano (NY-15), intends to illuminate Latino contributions to the story of the United States while bolstering the collection, study, research, publication, and establishment of exhibitions and programs related to Latino life, art, history, and culture.

During the hearing witnesses highlighted the urgency to pass the bill, noting the current racist rhetoric against the Hispanic and Latino community from the Trump Administration and an upswell of anti-Latino attitudes in the country. Dolores Huerta gave an account of encountering a person on the street who used a racial slur toward her.

In her opening remarks, Haaland highlighted New Mexico’s culture and history stating, “In my home state of New Mexico, the influences of Hispanic and Latino culture can be found in everything from our food and festivals to our art and architecture. Although Latinos represent the largest ethnic group in the nation, their innumerable contributions to American culture and history are often ignored by our history books. This bill seeks to recognize and honor the countless contributions of Latinos to our nation’s history and culture by establishing the National Museum of the American Latino within the Smithsonian Institution – ensuring that the American Latino story is preserved and shared.”

Haaland represents a district that is majority-minority with deep Hispanic roots and strong immigrant communities. During Haaland’s roundtable with the Hispanic Heritage Committee and Hispanic leaders in the district earlier this month, the group made it clear that communities in the district were excited to see the museum become a reality.