[Fwd: ACTION REQUIRED TODAY : LATINO MUSEUM COMMISSION BILL]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: ACTION REQUIRED TODAY : LATINO MUSEUM COMMISSION BILL
Date: Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:54:42 -0500 (EST)
From: MIMILOZANO@aol.com
To: MIMILOZANO@aol.com

DEAR FRIENDS OF US LATINOS . . .

*PLEASE *ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY . . . READ BELOW AND CONTACT YOUR _STATE
US SENATOR _. . . THIS IS THE FIRST VERY NECESSARY STEP FOR A LATINO
MUSEUM IN DC . . . _TWO TELEPHONE CALLS . . THAT IS ALL_

THE CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR SALAZAR
FORWARDED FROM OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMAN XAVIER BECERRA. . . SO ACTION IS
NEEDED NOW BEFORE 2 PM. *MAKE 2 CALLS.*

*Contacting U.S. Congressmembers >
JUST CHANGE THE ZIP CODE STATE ID site includes . . .
phone, fax number and URL for that office *
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newseek.cgi?site=ctc&state=ca

<<

PLEASE FORWARD. . . . .

>
> *From:* Najar, Joel [mailto:joel.najar@mail.house.gov]
> *Sent:* Thursday, December 07, 2006 11:48 AM
> *To:* Larry Gonzalez; 'Oleary, Pilar'; ''Henry Muñoz III'; 'Myra
> Lopez'; 'Estuardo Rodriguez'; 'Raul Gonzalez'; Ferreira, David;
> 'Ronald Blackburn'; 'MIMILOZANO@aol.com'
> *Cc:* Escobar, Felicia (Salazar)
> *Subject:* FW: Action today on the Latino Museum Commission Bill
> *Importance:* High
>
> Message from Felicia Escobar:
>
> Senator Coburn has lifted his hold on the Latino Museum Commission
> bill - but we are hearing that there is another objection to the bill.
> We have VERY limited time to get this bill passed (i.e. today) and we
> really need to talk to the Senator who is blocking the bill. I was
> told that someone might be holding it up, but have no idea who it is.
>
> If you have any idea who it might be, please tell Felicia in Salazar's
> office.
>
> Talking points are attached in case you can help reach Senators'
> offices today.
>
>
BEFORE ADJOURNMENT, THE *SENATE *SHOULD PASS* H.R. 2134, *TO CREATE A
COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF A NATIONAL LATINO MUSEUM

H.R. 2134 would authorize the President and Congressional leaders to
appoint a 23 member commission to study whether and how to establish and
maintain a national museum in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the
contributions of the American Hispanic community to the United States.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2134 by voice vote on September
27, 2006. The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support and was not opposed
in the House.

The sponsors are Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
(R-FL). The Senate companion, S. 2475, is cosponsored by Sen. Ken
Salazar (D-CO) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL).

H.R. 2134 is currently being held at the Senate Clerk's desk, and can be
passed by Unanimous Consent of the Senate. Sen. Domenici, the chair of
the committee of jurisdiction over this bill, and Majority Leader Frist
are supportive and have attempted to schedule a vote on the bill, but an
unknown Senator's office has placed a hold on action. Sen. Coburn from
Oklahoma, who had been blocking, has agreed to lift his hold, but
someone else is now objecting.

H.R 2134 does not actually establish a museum - it merely creates a
commission to consider and report on likely costs, potential locations,
fundraising sources, available collections, community involvement and
other issues involved with establishing a museum. Congress would have
to act once again after receiving the commission's recommendations if it
chooses to establish a museum.

Still, there is a deep interest in the Hispanic community to see that
America's national museums portray an inclusive picture of who we are
and who we are becoming as a nation.

Many potential funders are committed to ensuring that a museum dedicated
to American Hispanic history and cultural contributions is successful.
The proponents of the project expect that half of the funding for the
establishment of such a museum would come from the private sector.

The current institutions in Washington's museum core include a museum
dedicated to the American Indian, and will soon include a National
Museum of African American History and Culture.

There are 45 million Americans of Hispanic descent in the United
States. One of every 5th child born in the United States is Hispanic.
Yet hardly any of the exhibits in the national museums in Washington
portray Hispanic contributions to the United States. Visitors to these
museums walk away from them expecting to have a better sense of American
history and culture. We cannot afford to continue letting an incomplete
story be told.

This legislation is supported by the National Hispanic Leadership
Agenda, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the National
Council of La Raza, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and
many local Hispanic chambers of commerce, as well as a host of community
leaders and Hispanic notables (e.g., Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos,
Eva Longoria, and Rosario Dawson).