A federal commission is asking Congress to establish a new museum next to the Capitol dedicated to Latino American history and culture. The report, released Thursday and endorsed by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, calls for Congress to create a museum that would commemorate the fastest-growing population in the country and serve as “a gateway to the National Mall.” It calls for a 50-50 split between private fundraising and federal dollars to raise $600 million over 10 years to plan and build the museum. It also stipulates that no federal funding would be needed for the first six years.
“The commission … recognizes that it must balance two vital priorities: not contributing to any new federal expenditure in the short term, while clearly moving forward with a national museum that integrates the Latino experience into the American narrative,” the report said.
