amount of confidence in their fellow americans decisions. looking at the partisan breakdown on the answers, only republican show a majority on the question. you can find all the results including whether americans think that states and localities should be able to decide the election processes. >> it is a house natural resource subcommittee hearing on the creation of the smithsonian national latino museum. witnesses include new york them a credit congressman who introduced a bill to create the new museum. this is about one hour 20 minutes. >> good morning. the subcommittee will now come

to order. the national museum of the american latino act. under committee role as they are limited to the chair and the ranking minority member. therefore i ask unanimous consent that all other members be made part of a curing record record if they are submitted to the clerk 5:00 p.m. today tiered hearing no objection so order. in addition to the broad interest in today's hearing i would like to ask unanimous consent that all interested members be allowed to join us and participate on the dais. before we get started, i would like to take, i would like to take a point of personal privilege and have a moment of silence for our friends. our colleague. defender of justice and

inequality. and humanity. mr. elisha cummings. >> thank you all so much. >> thank you for attending the subcommittee. legislative hearing on the national museum of the american latino act. a proposal i am proud to cosponsor along with over 200 of my colleagues. i would like to extend my gratitude to the representative as well as other members of congress joining us today to testify on behalf of thisou important legislation. i would also like to welcome our

witnesses. many of whom have traveled a long way to speak to the personal and national significance of this proposal. over 500 years, latinos have played an important role in shaping the history, culture ane art of this nation. my home state of new mexico, the influences of hispanic newti mexico, the influences of hispanic and latino culture can be found in everything from our food and festival into art and architecture. thelargest ethnic group in nation. innumerable constitutions to to american culture and history are often ignored by our history books. unfortunately, many heritage romaine untold or forgotten over time. recognizing and honoring the contributions of latinos there are nation's history and culture mby establishing the american latino with the smithsonian institution. ensuring that the american latino p story is observed and

shared. this bill presents us with an important opportunity to create a more inclusive and representative story of america by illuminating the diverse experiences of latino americans that have been overlooked for far too long. it is especially fitting that we consider this proposal today as this tuesday marked the end of national hispanic heritage month. a time whenie we celebrate our country is proud hispanic heritage and tribute to the achievements ofri americans. the establishment of the first permanent in 1565 to the millions of latinos who have served our nation the experiences of latino americans are woven into every aspect of american society. at the time that our national institutionsze elevate the stors

of hispanic and latino americans and present a more conclusive and complete image of american history and society. especially considering the increase in hateful rhetoric targeting the community in recent years.ti as we have seen with the national museum of african-american history and culture and the national museum of the andean, the establishment of a museum dedicated to the experiences of the latino willos provide americans and visitors from across the world with a deeper and richer understanding of the diverse voices that shake this nation. i would like to thank representative serrano again for championing this important legislation as well as a witnesses for being here today. we now recognize young for his opening statements. >> thank you, madam chair. i had a written statement i like

to submit for the record. i would like to thank mr. ronald for launching this bill. primarily because you are an honorary or lax in. he searched for two years in the coldest period of time. he came back safely and i complement him on that. thank you, sir. >> thank you, mr. young. i would like to turn to our first panel on welcome the members of congress. under our committee rules, they are limited to five minutes. you may submit a longer m statement for the record if you so choose. the lights in front of you will turn yellow when there is one minute left and read when time is expired. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york.

ochairman ranking young and members of the subcommittee, many of us have fought with the project t. they testified on hr 2020. the chairman, thank you for reminding me. a great place to be. starting 25 years ago. recommendations to approve it. it's work has led to many exciting new exhibits and opportunities. curators and researchers. however, we could not stop there

into the first bill in congress to begin the establishment. president bush signed legislation forming a commission to his administration. president obama a latino museum was necessary and feasible. it laid out a roadmap. it has been over eight years since its release. last year the ucla policy and politics initiative released a report. only three of the 10 recommendations from the original report had been addressed. that is why passes of hr 2420 ir critical. hr 2420 will finally authorize

the process of the museum by establishing a board of trustees that will provide recommendations to the board of regions on a design, placement, placement, construction and establishment of a futureus museum. it will include the diverse forces to make sure that all parts of the latino community are representing. hr 2420 authorizes a smithsonian to undertake a campaign to raise half of the funds necessary for this ambitious endeavor for private sources. also authorizing authorizing federal appropriations for the rest. this is historically done for other museums. hr 24200 also establishes grant programs to help go through the work of other museums across the country and provide scholarship opportunities for students

studying in the field of latino history. art and culture to help train a pipeline of talent to keep this history alive well into the future passage of this bill. it will show that reputation and inclusion matter.of making up almost one fifth of our population. we are the largest and second-fastest growing ethnic group. s we have made significant ldcontributions in the world of sports, music,, yards, scientist and beyond. from the american revolution to the fight for civil rights. latinos have been on the front lines of history. these stories and heroes are often overlooked. to deny they are telling us is to deny a very important point of what made this country what it is today. this great nation that we have. the latino gallery will open at the american history museum. we thank l edvard out diaz and s

leadership. it is a step hundreds of years of history cannot be contained in 4500 square feet. these stories deserve a dedicated space of their own on america's front arm to tell the full story of the american experience with latinos. i also want to acknowledge and thank my colleague congresswoman will heard of texas. here today. that leadership is read to a historic level of republican support this year. at 219 cosponsors and counting, this is truly a bipartisan effort. thank you again. have one of the latinoes museums as champions. we have the momentum to 116. the few seconds left here. .... ....

katie assembly. when i was elected, nixon was president. it's been a long time. but if you want to give me a going away present that i will cherish forever. [laughter] give me a masao. tuesday when i think about military, coming from territory when i think of when i think of the mexican-americans who have given so much to this country throughout our wars and the fact that the markers he exists and the latinos played a key role in keeping it alive and gave of themselves and their blood. thank you soh much. >> thank you so much for that moving testimony. we are so happy you are here. the chair organizes the gentleman from texas, mr. castro. >> thank you, chairwoman.

thank you to remember young into the chairman thank you for putting on this hearing today and most especially thanky you o my colleague for all his wonderful work over the years in helping bring this forward. creating a standalone national museum of the american latino will allow us to celebrate the immeasurable contributions latinos have made to american history and share these compliments with visitors from across the u.s. and around the world. this medium has been in the works for quite a long time and in 1994 is the zoning institution task force published a report recommending the creation of a museum on the latino experience including latinos at every level of leadership. while over 20 years have gone by since those regulations are made a ucla report earlier this year found that the institution at largely failed to meet the

recommendations as congressman engined. since 1994 only for only for hispanics has served in the institute leadership.. despite congress efforts for the last 15 years we still do not have latino museum. latinos make up almost 20% of the population in the united states, nearly 60 million across all 50 states and territories including 11 million in my home state of texas. latinos have defined decades of american music, art, sports and culture. latinos has served our country in uniform across all ranges of military. latinos of the organizers who fought for workers rights and for labor practices and latinos have a build america's siding economy as innovators and entrepreneurs but our stories, our experiences in country contusions have often been erased and left out of the writings of american estate histories. this erasure is silencing and

validates the importance of our communities. we can change that by establishing the national museum by the american latino. in the last 20 years this is uninteresting steps to increase representation diversity. on the nationaly. mall are natie american and african american communities, thankfully, has been sown in museums marking their history their suffering in their country visions to our nation. these museums are examples of successful dems and noticeable act of representation here in washington can bring pride to millions of americans of color. now it's time for the latino community to the same honor and recognition in the heart of our nation's capital unfortunately we are living at a time when many hispanic families are living in the shadows and in fear because of the anti-immigrant environment that is also affected u.s. citizensin of latino heritage. now, more than ever it's critical that we tell these ministries and celebrate

hispanic culture. my family like so many is the family of immigrants and everything i have today is because of the sacrifices of my grandmother who came to texas as a young orphan from mexico. latinos are committee with a rich history in the united at.tes and we stand strong and patriotic and stand up for the country. latinos contribute every day to our nation's economy, culture and art and communities are intermodal tour nations history and character and as the congress and said i would ask for the committees in congress support on this legislation. i yield back, chairwoman. b >> take you so much. i like to know yelled to chairman of the committee. >> thank you. i very briefly thank you for the opportunity to thank my colleagues and mr. sereno, my

dear dear friend, someone whom i will miss four his wife -- wise counsel and his leadership and he still calls me. [speaking in native tongue] when he does that but i want to knowledge that and extend him my deep appreciation in terms of four legacies that would be a nice gift. thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i think the sponsoring is for the members of congress for their valuable testimony and now invite the panel to mac to take their places at the witness places. thank you for being here.

[inaudible conversations] >> i invite panel to mac to take their places at the witness table. as with the first panel oral statements are limited to five minutes but your entire statement will be part of the hearing record. the license interview will turn yellow when there is one minute left and read when time has expired. after the witnesses haveel i testified, members will be given the opportunity to ask

questions. the chair now recognizes mr. edward o diaz, director of this with sony and latino center. mr. diaz, you have five minutes. >> thank you very much. i predict the opportunity. thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today. i'm aware that he is, director of the smithsonian center since 2008 in the center was graded in 1997 to promote latino presence within the society in. federal works cleverly. federal works cleverly with institutions museum, research center and record label and traveling exhibitions and showing that the conditions of

latino committee are explored, presented, is elevated and preserved. if the smithsonian is to fully serve 21st-century global audiences will have to be more inclusive, more accessible accessible and more diverse. critical part of this work is to include traditionally underrepresented in sources. i predate the paternity to justify before you on hror 2420a bill to create the latino. based on the success of the national american indian and african american history and culture we note the public is best served when a female ministry, art, culture and scientific achievement through different lenses. congress deems it in the public interest to great latino medium this mazzoni and would build a museum for the national and international recognition and i should add any additions to the sony family must take into consideration the existing priorities in consideration for the museum will need better funds for both accretion and long-term operation. in the meantime, we we will continue to work diligently to tell a broader and more complete narrative with the resources at our disposal and the commitment to securewowo and expand his stories.

do the work of the latino center we are expressing an unprecedented increases the number of research projects, collections, public parents and digital content about the conditions of the latino community. currently we are preparing to avail the first-ever latino museum on the national mall and the latinono gallery which willl open in the national museum of american history in the fall of 2021. this 4500 ft.2 gallery will present exhibitions detailing the complexity of the latino experience in the available to the visitors to the museum. they will present stories of discovery, identity, migration, innovation, entrepreneurship and success for intergenerational audiences and i have a couple sites here to show this is the entrance of the gallery and the next slide is the forum and photo of the gallery and the next site is the cases telling the history and the fourth slide is a dedicated educational space

in the back of the gallery. these are renderings at 10%. next week we will be at 35 and in april over the we will be at 65 so those are the percentages that it takes to get to the 90% of the design so you will see a little difference but i wanted to show these to you to get you an idea where headed. >> through the pool established the federal funds in 1995 p thes center makes possible a diverse array of research exhibitions, public programs for official government and fy 2019 supported 20 products across 24 to sony and museums and offices. in total we supported overr $70 worth of latino projects and we think argus for its continued support of these programs. in 2010 this missoni and established the latino territorial initiative which enables the sony into how content expertsts and which take

in a presentation to whole new level and fired 12 since 2012 and last year we won the prestigious award for our work from the american alliance museum. in 1994 established the latino museum studies from which it somewhere bringing graduate students to an immersive experience in museum practice. thirteen of those alumni network plants missoni and. numbers of this committee, may i ask, how does where public ander educational program experience going collections in the gallery plus the pathway programs to repair this missoni and for the possibly of a new latino museum. expanding latino presence institutionally we graded a base of content expertise, collections of public educational expertise and have established programs that prepare future latinos and professionals on and be needed to build and staff in the

museum. of the tino center has been dedicated to ongoing efforts to increase the visibility of latino populations and enrich the device stories of this missoni of it we will continue to build collections, higher curators, exhibitions, present public present public and educational programs and support musical recordings, and engage n scholarly research, dialogue, collaborate to take the necessary steps to ensure that the latino stories presented as an integral part of the american story. thank you very much for supporting this ongoing work.ec thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify before you today. i'm happy to answer any questions you may have. >> you so much. the chair now recognizes mr.r. steven, presser of history and american studies at yale university. you have five minutes, sir. >> thank you for having a break. i'm the professor of history and american studies and director of the center for the study of race

and transnational migration at yale and a past member of the national parks service advisory board and the past chair of the national historic: community for the national park service. i'm an historian of latino communities in the 19th and 20th century and have had the opportunity to work closely with the curators of the cecconi and whom i admire deeply where i've talked to yield courses on how this missoni andnd presents american history to the public. i'm here today to underscore that latino history is american history and that any serious attempt to document and interpret this continent in its history over the past 500 years years requires serious engagement with latino experiences. this claim is hardly controversial among scholars and academics who teach research right history for living in the central importance the latino supplied in american history have been recognized for decades by academic associations, publishers of books and journals, museum professionals, college and university history apartments k-12 students and educators and many others.

we've long known that we cannot understand important patterns in american history or how the united states had broader development in the world and healthier or in north america without recognizing the place the people of latin american descent in what is today the united states. focus on latinos isn't that critical for understanding histories of colonization slavery and antislavery, deborah craddick struggles, economic girls and struggles of working people, foreign-policyor, religious dynamics and city rights and much, much more. scholars have explored these things and many others in great detail over thee. past century. in 2013i helped to write and assemble the maggot latinos in the making of the united states teen study for the national parks service. i edited a collection of 16 original essays that guide federal preservation and interpretation and we remainnd proud of that study as an

encapsulation of the range of perspectives and the depth of scholarship about latinos in the united states and as a resource for public historians and for others interested in learning more about a wide range of histories ofing wars and revolutions, american military, business and commerce in the united states, religion and spirituality, science and medicine, education and law and government. we knew in 2013 that americans from coast to coast were eager to understand these topics andha others but unfortunately we know in 2019 the 2020 people in this country remain uninformed about the long-standing historical importance of latinos. ignorance about the past threatened to be divisive or even disruptive in the present. we know p the way i learned extremists in the united states have mr. presented latinos as a new cultural threat and how well-meaning journalist and educators have mischaracterized puerto rico's political and economic relationshipp to washington dc. latinos have been without of popular music and hollywood

films. or how narratives about the american revolution or the u.s. civil war in the labor movement were entire regions of the united states continue to be told latinos in plano historical role. we need national leadership to educate the public about these topics and others that can convene scholars and large audiences and that can guide ongoing conversations about history grounded in scholarship and research. these efforts will benefit from the rich and very histories that have been published on these topics and others for decades. from the expertise of hundreds of researchers, writers, archivists, curators and other professionals and with deep historical fluency in these areas. in those efforts will benefit from the involvement of other americans who stillnd have until stories and family treasures to share.

they create and animate communities across many generations raising children here and building traditions and so forth. in the mid- 19th century james, smithson provided initial resources to createit smithsonin institution that would serve as quote, and establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. they have done incredible work since the time and they focused too little attention to date on advancing research and public understandings of latinos in the united states. the 21st century americans will be fully informed and if we will face our society's most pressing challenges today we need a new national museum that it'd to b grounding the loop tio passed as central to american entry. thank you. >> thank you so much. the chair now recognizes the president of the foundation, fampion of workers everywhere, organizer, mentor to entire generations and my friend.

>> thank you, madam chair. i'm so happy to be here and i want to thank you for having this hearing. it is long overdue. it's been said by the previous testimony we know that this is an imperative and we need to have this latino museum as soon as possible, especially as it is been said before of all of the terrible attacks that have been relayed against our community and our latino children that have suffered when this happened and if we can have a latino museum that we can put on display but the conditions are of latinos in this country. know that during world war ii there were more latinos that received the atngressional medal of honor then any other ethnic group in the united states of america.

people do not know this. these are the things people have to know. i had an interesting confrontation i might say with a homeless person the other day and i was trying to give this woman food because she was homeless and i had food that was laying around and when i tried to give her the food she yelled at me and said you went back, w get away for me. i don't want to take anything from you. when she said that as a latinos we get these micro aggressions anyway but it's sad when you think of that that someone on the street which is a i may want back but my great grandfather actually served in the civil war as part of the union army and my father and my brothers were in world war ii and also in the korean war and my father was also innocent women are the state of new mexico and i have an uncle who is in the cemetery

in new mexico because he was killed in a mine explosion. these are things people do not know. latinos have made many confirmations to build the impish structure of the united states of america. a very central part. i often say to people i googled the map of the united states of america beforeme 1847 and everybody needs to see that map because look at the map of the united states but before 1847 they will see that one third of the united states of mexico and one third of the united states of mexico so when they tell us, as they often do, go back where you came from we have to say we are where we came from. we are where we came from. this is something everyone needs to know. any to be in our educational system people need to know this to stop the hatred and his coronation and attacks on our latino communities. it is time. we know that latinos in addition

to the far work they did to develop much of the land of the united states of america building that railroads and so much of the labors that built this country were latinos and that's not recognized or acknowledged. in addition to the historical figures that we have that came out of our community so at this point in time where we are at this point in history we need to celebrate the diversity of our country and recognize and acknowledge and respect and demonstrate in a latino museum what the contributions have been of our latino community and we are not outsiders. we have always been here from the beginning and that needs to be acknowledged in a very visible way. n t is time for us to make this happen and we have a very great history and people need to know

what that history is. we cannot wait any longer. it is time and the time is now. thank you. >> take you very much. >> one more thing. i want to thank the smithsonian for its initiatives. i was privileged to attend the first latino or latina to have a portrait in this masonic and in that exhibit is now traveling throughout the united states of america and i think to other countries and i do want to think this was sony and what they're doing and they have been underfunded to do this and they all need to come together andd say let's build that museum we've been talking about this for 20 years. long overdue. >> thank you. you so much. the chair now recognizes the honorable, former u.s. dobassador to el salvador and former acting assistant secretary of state.

>> thank you very much. it is a great honor to appear a before you today as a lifelong advocate for my community, a public servant and more importantly as a latina, a puerto rican and an american. i. i thank you for the invitation and want to thank my friends in the panel especially [inaudible] who is been ay. guiding light in my life and who always, when things were dark, i always knew that. professor, from the bottom of my heart thank you. thank you very much. i have felt deeply about what it means to be here at this historic time in our nation considering the seeds that were planted more than 25 years ago by my dear friend, myself and

the amazing panel of latino advocates. we gathered then at the request of the smithsonian of the 500 year of u.s. latino histories drop the holes masonic institution. as we stated in the opening of our report the smithsonian in u.s. latinos the report was assigned to benefit all the people of that u.s. in their recommendations were not to address the concerns of one single publishing group but to help the smithsonian become to the representatives and inclusive of all the diverse people and populations of this nation. that remains through but we were also driven by the single idea that if these stories could be shared they could certainly

inspire each generation of latino youth to reach the greatness of their innate potential. among the ten recommendations i would commend that it was clear that the inclusion of latino americans needs to exist in the museum was critical but also clear that there were hundreds of years of history that was required a separate standalone museum and in fact what our fourth recommendation read the smithsonian's beginning immediately reduce the groundwork needed for historic punishment to betray the historic culture and our basic achievements of the u.s. hispanics. it should come as a surprise that as he and the seat the failings of the smithsonian and possible remediation we heard from many within the smith sony and the budgetary constraints

would make many of our recommendations unlikely. twenty-five years later as we push forward on the settlement of our course recognition we unfortunately are hearing the same concerns.sa yes, we see great progress has been made but notwithstanding the budgetary fears we were warned about over two decades ago with the left tackle -- the opening of the mulino family gallery is on the horizon and promises to have exhibits that begin to dive into our explored history. i would argue that these make reality because we tear to ask. we dare to demand, not for us but for the next generation. every american the consternation front yard in an effort to better understand who we are and how we came to be. i know that i and others who

have achieved many of the roles we have achieved in our lives has been done with out a museum but how manymu have been left behind. how many did not see themselves for trade in a positive light in mainstream media? and how many have abandoned their dream as a result? how many continue to feel or see latinos as invaders instead of partners or americans? people that have stood shoulder to shoulder in every war dating back before the war of independence simply because they have a limited understanding of the role of the spanish mexican indigenous and caribbean people

who helped settle more than half of this land 500 years ago. how much of that divide can be addressed by more accurate telling of our american history and how many in history stories omain buried in storage or in families that could do more to unite us? thank you very much for having me here today. >> thank you, madam ambassador. thank you all so much for your valuable testimony. the chair would organize members for questions and under committee role 3-d each member will be recognized for five minutes. i'd like to not recognize [inaudible] for five minutes. >> thank you, representative holland in this hearing especially important topic to cover right now. the idea of the museum is not new or unnecessary. it is just the opposite.

having the broad support for private latino committees the commission charged by congress found that and i quote, a national museum focused on latino history, articles or is not only viable but central to megan interest. i will personally [inaudible] it would have a huge impact specifically on my young latino son. in our current political environment and constant racist attacks which we heard even from dolores being directed at our committee now it's a time to reaffirm their central park and have since our nation's birth. that better way to do that to establishment of the natural museum of american latino and to highlight even how important report and this is i have personal experience with dolor dolores. back in my younger days there was a [inaudible] in arizona,

well-educated well-educated man harvard undergrad, harvard law school and in the process of trying to slam ethnic studies he insulted the loris by calling bher not as important figure in the civil rights movement and just because she was cesar chavez girlfriend not recognizing she was the cofounder of the united farm workers and long history in the labor and so rights movement and women's movement. it was ain big fight that she ad i got into to prove the point that we need ethnic studies in a museum like this to educate not just every americans but even our so-called educated americans i'm happy to salesperson eventually lost his election and everyone involved with that ethnic studiesio in arizona lost the elections and to this day they are all living in ignorance but at least they have no more power.

and so, moving on from that. again, this is something that we definitely need. in your testimony you mentioned the richness importance of latino history any talk on the history of museums to the public. in your opinion what benefit by having dedicated museums to provide to the public at this first exhibit or part about american history cannot provide? centralized versus the roving museums that are current right rinow. >> i thank you for your question. the question gets at the core of the centrality of latinos to the united states and whether we can properly and adequately present and address the history of latinos in the united states through the diverse approach we currently have. i've great admiration for so much of what the smithsonian is done to bring some latino stories through the entity and wisdom and professionalism of

the curatorial staff but what we really need is a place in which latino history can be understood in its fullness and complexity and richness. we are talking after all of 500 years of history and historical elements do touch upon and helped to shape important critical patterns in american history and thinking of everything from colonialism and colonization at the beginning of ene 500 yearsrs of recent histoy through period of american revolution and letter megan revolution in 19 century how the united states played a role in those histories in the us-mexico war and the civil war and reconstruction in the way -- >> i've limited time so let me extend my time. before i and my line of questioning, dolores, could you you explain how you feel that

this would help the young latinos. you mentioned them, myself included, you are the chairwoman of my first date housekeeping and have been very incidental in helping meet my whole life so how do you thank you would as a leader that mentored people appear would be able to further aid latino museum. >> i think it's impossible for each one of us to care aboutis these issues and to explain our history in the united states of america one-on-one and if we have a permanent site that we can say to people go to this site not only to be have aav permanent place for [inaudible] that we can refer people to that as the african museum and the native american museum which had been great contributions, i think, to our to our country and

we can do the same thing with our history being propagated as you mentioned starting with the colonialism et cetera and so i think it's got to be told people have to know that we have to embrace the ignorance in our country because it's a i dangers what is going on right now and i think as congressional leaders here are the leaders of our country and this is the response ability to be able to make this happen and this is something that will live beyond you were beyond the time you're in congress and i'm thinking of the history of arizona and new mexico and texas and a florida and people need to know this and wants they see as history they will have the understanding and it will broaden their knowledge and hopefully erase the ignorance that now exists and that is so harmful. >> thank you, dolores. >> the chair now recognizes ponking member.

>> thank you madam chair. everybody supports this product. it's like buying an airplane. everyone wants a plane but theyt have to put gas in it. this is for my director. reporting $659 international space museum what do you estimate the cost will be for this medium which we support and where we get the funds? >> thank you for the question. the issue depends on where the museum will be decided and if it will be new construction or an existing building and how big will the museum be and there are considerations. i think what is necessary in the first instance is some feasibility study or assessment to be able to determine those very key elements that i just mentioned. i can tell you that we can american history and culture,

for example, the design and construction alone was over half a billion dollars and 250 million that came from congressionally appropriated dollars and it is difficult to estimate congress at this point for the new latino museum. >> what about locations kinect has the commission look at locations? >> one of the locations that has been cited in a divide is the arts and industry building which is the building that we can beans and the hearst museum. there are challenges with that building. it's 100,000 ft.2 which is one third of the size of most of those major soul size alone is a challenge and also historically significant building in which means that it would require special care and addressing temperature controls, leading the trolls so it's a pitiful

building no doubt in mother it was original museum but it's demolished smallish in nature and that's a property i know the commission looked at. >> i hope the commission to look at the cost factor but we can't have an old building and sometimes it's building better to build new. has there been any proposal where they build new. >> i think the commission identified if i'm not mistaken the senate working area was one of -- >> i'm all for it. [laughter] >> i don't know if there's any other agent space. they can't space on the mall and is a premium at this point. >> i just thought of the funding

part because it's a challenge we have smithsonian has a backlog in maintenance in every thing else and i've talked with herrt testimony that one fifth of the publishing of america is latino. i would suggest think about send every latino a letter and say you get ai lifetime pass for $20 and maybe $100 a or whatever attitude because we could raise that money and match it with the federal money for a project that needs to get funded. i will be worried about the timr factor now. i like to be see it finished before i go and i have to think about where i will go but i'm worried about time and i don't want to be delayed in that sort of thing that any comments.hi >> the issue of the more broader base funding strategy is

something that worked quite well particularly with the national african history and culture ando i'm a member of myself and contribute modestly to that effort. however i will say that the federal dollars that were allocated that he mentioned earlier were key to leveragege support not only for large corporations and individuals who have considerable amount of money to give but foundations but it was also i think instrument of indus lodging, if you will or encouraging people to give money and much smaller monies as well as people were engaged as a member if they were part of the efforts but the big dollars and the large donations including from aside from congress but from your targetsut and from your bank of america and so forth are critical to leverage for the support from the public. >> let's edit down. it's important. i think the panel for their testimony and we will go forth. are you back.

>> thank you mr. young. the chair recognizes mr.r cart cartman. >> thank you very much. i appreciate the witnesses coming forward and begin their inexpertise and perspectives to this incredibly important issue that in my opinion is important to the united states of america and to the world. i also like to offer to summit for the record some letter of support from the mayor of st. louis and entities that los angeles that are supportive and that will be accepted by the chair. thank you, mme. madame chairwoman, for holding this incredibly important hearing. i am a proud american citizen but equally proud to be the son of immigrants from another country and i'm a proud latino american and am blessed to be a member of the united states congress.

the megan people, the world and the 58 million latinos in american today deserve to visit a latino museum to in this positively, military, critical, social and science contribution. the time is overdue for this smithsonian institution to have latino museum. we need to formalize the american latino american museum and ended the environment in america where the american latino history, our stories are treated like a scavenger hunt. both in our educational system and in our society and system it is nice that this missoni and has a 4500 square foot museum50 exhibit and that's a step in the right direction but shame on any person who believes that that is the endgame or that should be

the conclusion to the satisfaction that that is, in fact, what our community and what our country deserves. we deserve just like the afghan american museum which is my understanding the most visited museum on this missoni in my t understanding the most visited museum in the country. i believe the latino museum deserves a similar approximation of the square foot museum not exhibits as we are now the largest united states of america. i think it's important for the livelihood and the positive existence of the current generations of latinos and future generations of latinos that we finally get the respect and the attention we deserve, positive attention we deserve in this great country.

we have always been a positive force in this great nation. whether it is receiving the largest number of medal of honor congressional medal of honor sabeans in world war ii is the as the great the laurus mentioned a fewss minutes ago to the fact that there are more american children's noses who get wiped by latino hands than any other community in america. for example, we have the son of farm workers who became a united states astronaut and was the first person to be outside the planets fear to speak spanish from out there because he was the son of immigrants. those kinds of contributions are

critical to the south expectation of every tino child in america and in the world to know and understand and believe that we are equals and that we matter. right now in america we are in a dark time because latinos are being spoken of by the most powerful voice on the planet is been less than equal in america. we need to be a positive force of the chapter of americans as members of congress and as citizens and as residents,

documented and undocumented, of this great nation to be witnessed included as equals and shame on any person who believes that we deserve anything less than that. thank you, mme. madame chairwoman. i yield back. >> inky. the chair recognizes [inaudible] >> thank you, mdm. chair. thank you for holding this hearing. i'm not a a member of this committee i wanted to be here and not just as a sponsor of this bill but i truly believe this will change the perception about the latino community, not just just in the united states, but help us with our allies in latin america to understand the importance of contributions of latinos around the world. i still want to be here to say thank you to my congressman who

introduced the spell, hr 2420 and the spell we want to honor the contributions made by latinos to the united states to establish this smithsonian museum and as all of you have already said latinos have played a role throughout american history and in our case more than 500 years we have military leaders and wars pioneers in science, sports and in the arts field as activists, jurists, double mats and elected officials according to the latest census the u.s. hispanic proposition we have a record of 89.9 million in 2018 and that means we now were present 18% of our nation's population and that's a big number. it's been clear that we should

understand the united states history and what our nation of events including the ideals, struggles and fundamental values in thatt region requires that we also understand and tell the story of the american latino community and it's long overdue and we establish this museum right here in a nation's capitai to help us achieve that. in frederico are sold or presented it in congress is also something personal to me. i represent more latinos than any other member of congress. our island has a part of the u.s. since 1898 and americans have been here since 1917 and since then. we have contributed greatly to our nation in all fields of endeavor both in war. more than 250,000 men women

served honorably in our armed services fighting alongside fellow americans with every conflict in world war i and many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. having said that hundreds are being recognized in the xt five regimen in the korean war as well as many others in different. however, i think the legacy goes beyond military service and we have [inaudible] there are many others and few examples of many bread weekends that contributive but something happened across the nation. it's an honor to have them here. you are an example. [speaking in native tongue]

in your fight for the rights of people as well as the woman's movement and for my generation as well. i just want to say i believe to establish this national museum will help to the contributions of the unitedn states and i want to say welcome to the abbasid or peaches been a great example of what can be done and what can be done and i just want have one question for her directly. as a former investor and acting secretary for the western hemisphere and how will establishing this museum will help the united states to engage with latino communities and our allies in this hemisphere connect.

>> thank you for the question, congresswoman. i think the greatest gift that we can give to each other is the case of empowerment and the gift of seeing each other and being able to ask questions and hasd seen ourselves as friends and allies and been able to help each other and visualizing ourselves as contributors as everyone i think a museum is inm a visual reminder of that gift and of allowing ourselves to identify with people who did not know how to get there but somehow they did. recause they got there and

father way there they made it that's the empowerment we can give each other and give not e only americans but other communities south americans and central americans who visit us as well thank you for your example of how things can be done. with that, i yield back. >> inky. i will now make a nice myself for five minutes. i will start with you. i want to start by thanking you for your outspoken and tireless advocacy on behalf of of the latin community, american farmers and workers, women, of dvt q movement and underserved committees across this country. i'm also proud to call you alo fellow new mexican. we claim you.

thank you for being born there. as you know i represent new mexico's first congressional district where our vibrant latin committee recommends almost half the population and hispanic culture in a living breathing part of our state. unfortunately there remains a general lack of understanding about u.s. latino experience and the central role latinos have in shaping our nation as everyone essentially stated in their testimony. as our countries from your agricultural institution the failure to include in a% latin ex-communities and country missions have been damaging on multiple fronts. it not only denies latin communities the right to feel included in value as part the american heritage but also by traits and inaccurate belief that they have contributed little to our nation's development or culture.

considering the current political climate increased anti- latin rhetoric do you believe establishing a national museum of the american latino would enhance our nations cultural understanding of this committee and contribute to a more inclusive society? >> absolutely. we know thatbs this makes a big statement in our nations capital that we have a latino museum and this is something that will go to the name and just because it's here in washington dc and even sometimes people a lot of people don't know p the contributions that the congressman roy was the first person in the congress along with [inaudible] who started as

a whole campus now named after him in atlanta and even members here of congress have contributed. [inaudible] it's imperative right now that we are at a critical point and i mentioned that even just the announcement that congress will support this and yes i'm sure a lot of people would contribute to make this happen because of the sensitivity that is out there and the fact that we have activism in our community and the fact that congress will do this will go a long way to do

some of the healing and the enlightenment and knowledge that it decreases the amount of hostility. >> thank you so much. over 25 years ago the smithsonian's willful neglect found that could trim latinos have contributed significant to every aspect of the american culture yet they almost entirely excludes and ignores latinos in nearly every aspect of its operation. in addition the report stated that quote, budget limitation il not an acceptable reason for failure to increase the latino presence within the smithsonian and since the willful neglect report was published in 1984 the smith sony and has taken steps to increase latin ration and inclusion within the institution including the assessment of the

smithsonian latino center and gallery which is expected to open in 2021 and will be the first ever latino gallery on the national mall. in your opinion has the smithsonian's effort since the release of the willfulness lack report adequately increase the representation and inclusion of latinos in the institution's work force and programming? >> no, they are not. i have respect for the people that been trying to do this work but the resources not been provided or necessary to teach the children to come to this estonian and millions of visitors and those who look online for the smithsonian resources were at a stage in which we known for a long time the smithsonian has not adequately represented the depth and centrality of latino history. these are well-known facts and the centrality of latinos have

been shown and proven the fact that this muslim has not followed up and devoted adequate resources is still shocking. >> thank you for that. i will yield and recognize for the next five minutes. >> thank you, madam chair. thank you for putting this hearing together with the hearing of a process and that process that i think the jurisdiction of this committee is appropriate c. the property is being discussed has potential sites for a variety of assets i think there

is an important role to play if not critical role to play. this is not an issue of either or or being in competition with internal development or latino history with the smithsonian. number two this is not a competition with any initiatives that are out there and most visibly the women's history museum we support it's not an even or proposition. this is the largest museum and education and research complex in shaping the futureh by preserving our characters and discovering knowledge in sharing our resources with the world.n. all of us here support that and we think it's important. the story of america but until

that charge will remain on the field as long as the major component of the megan story with heritage in our culture and our shared and lived experiences i left untold. the mission will not be encompassed and in a museum it is to that end. i say that because i appreciate the witnesses excellent and thank you all but we are to a point that we don't need to be justifying this initiative over and over again. it's perfectly plain that this is a gap and particularly with the backdrop that my colleagues were mentioned the backup were in right now historically and the rhetoric we hear from the

top office in this country that is unabashedly targeted latinos and underrepresented in communities but all the more reason, in my view, to accelerate a greater understanding and accelerate the development of a standalone latino museum . that is the story of our country and that role was important for heritage and growth but for understanding that we all shoul share as americans. like all americans, latinos are not a homogeneous group. they are richly diverse, culturally and even link was tickly and historically our experiences are coming from different places and but that is a fully megan presence here andf

that's the future that was tied to this nation it will intrinsically not be separated from it. latinos need to have their place of prominence. not as a prize but as an acknowledgment to further that understanding that i talked about so that with our fellow americans they began to see the latino experience and who we are as originally american as apple pie and is richly tied and welded into the history and future of this nation and that is why this museum is needed - it's a staple. it's not a statement that we have arrived but a statement

that we have been here and have been toiling in the vineyard and this is what we have done and when the rest of america sees that they will see it as a major contrition as a contribution and an acknowledgment. this stand-alone museum provides us withce a prominence in the resources to do that. i don't belittle the efforts to integrate an open and make the smith sony and whole the institution more accessible and more presenting of our history. and our future. that is an interim step in my mind. >> the final step is a standalone museum with the chairs leadership on this issue we hope to be partners in an

effort going for an and accommodating the request we got appreciative to the witnesses and appreciation for your comments and it goes without saying there's nothing to say other than appreciate it. thank you. >> thank you very much. >> thank you very much for organizing today's hearing on the astonishment of the american latino. it is great to see the witnesses here and great to see you as always. my home state of nevada has a strong burgeoning latin american committee according to the most recent u.s. census data at the latino community makes up 29% of our state population meaning nevada has the fifth largest latin explanation of all 50 states.

in nevada sports congressional district which i'm proud to present more than 31% of our population is latino for el salvador, print legal and many other countries. on behalf ofal mike and scituats about to be here today advocating for the astonishment of the national museum of the american latino. we are here today to discuss an important piece of legislation. legislation that only recognizes the significant cultural contributions of the american latino but also attempts to correct the imbalance that exists in the telling of our nations history. for far too long the communities of color have been glossed over and left out. they have ignored and understated but it's been aee common practice to forget its past atrocities and paint our history only in its best light.

this bill however recognizes the significance of flaws with this approach and how it inhibits a true understanding of our history and how it denies significant parts of our past and instead highlights the significant role the a american latino has played throughout our history to create an interactive experience for people to learn the stories written out of their textbooks and where they can learn and appreciate their heritage. for decades my community fought to establish a museum of our history and a history that shows without omissions and edit the history of black people in america and a museum that's really probably reckon eyes is the many contributions african americans make to this country. after decades of advocacy the national museum of african-american history and culture was established by law in 2013. the museum opened less than a

decade later in 2012 and 12 and now serves as a national be of african-american culture. it is a place of our own in dc the foley recognizes our participation in this society. it's a place from where all of the country can visit and have hope that this country is all of our country and that this government works for us to and not just the long-standing majority. that is why i'm so happy and proud to join with my colleague, congresswoman of new york and the congressional hispanic caucus in advancing latino culture and history in the same way. at times where some latino immigrants are looked down upon turned away from her country and separated from their families and insulted and prosecuted by the president's latino community needs assemble in washington dc that reminds them that they are

critical part of their gradation and in this country and america sees them and represents them. it's a symbol in dc that will remind all americans of the proud contributions made to our culture so i hope this committee and the whole house can join together in a bipartisan way to support this passage of this legislation and to reaffirm the important role latino american plate in the united states of america. i'd like to ask you based on your long-standing advocacy and legacy what message this will send having this museum of latino american heritage on the national mall and what does that mean and what message does that send? >> i think the greater message is that we have been your four

centuries and have been here and been part of the megan fabric and i say america instead of -- that we have been here and that it can be demonstrated and be recognized and people could go and find their histories in the national museum is an abortive part [inaudible] today we need this desperately in just the announcement itself would go a long way because the only way we can erase racism is my understanding and knowledge and this is what the latino womand would do to create this understanding and knowledge and histories the people can go to

and see for themselves that we are not making it up. it's they are. they can find it. >> thank you. thank you madam chair. >> thank you. i think the witnesses for their valuable testimony and for coming in for traveling here and being with us today. your voices are so important here and i'm grateful you are ia this committee room. members of the committee may have additional questions for all of you and we will ask you to respond to these in writing. under committee rule 30 members of the committee estimate witness questions within three business days following the hearing and the hearing record will be open for ten businesse days for these responses and if there is no further business without objection. [speaking in native tongue] the committee stands adjourned.

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

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>> we were very conscious of this movement so they can make some ground on this on this legislation and the bill to support with the women's issues to have those appointments of women with the federal government. about the internet and consumer protection. some topic is section 230 of the communications decency act which protectsro