Cortez Masto Calls for the Creation of Women's History and Latino Museums

Statement

During this week's Senate Rules Committee hearing on the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act and the National Museum of the American Latino Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) delivered opening remarks in support of both bills in which she underscored the importance of the creation of both museums to America's interests.

"One of the things that I think is so important to emphasize when we're discussing these future museums is that they're not just museums for one group of people," said the Senator. "A women's history museum won't just benefit women, and a Latino museum is not just for Latinos to visit. Instead, these museums are for all of us, to help us expand our understanding of what it means to be American and learn more about the contributions of all those who've come before us and contributed to who we are today."

The Senator concluded, "So, I strongly support passing these bills into law so we can start the process of building two essential museums that Americans need and deserve. But that also means we need to provide the Smithsonian Institution with the support it needs for staffing, maintenance, and security of our existing museums and collections. It's long past time to make these new museums a priority, so I hope we get serious today and in the future about making it happen."

BACKGROUND:

Senator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, a bipartisan bill to establish an American women's history museum in our nation's capital. In May 2019, Senator Cortez Masto joined her colleagues in introducing the National Museum of the American Latino Act to initiate the process of creating a museum honoring the contributions of American Latinos.

Source