Kevin Roberts: “I rise to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the senior Senator from…”

“I rise to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the senior Senator from Texas with regard to a commitment made between all of us here. This commitment is related to the [consideration] of H.R. 2420, National Museum of the American Latino Act, previously reported out of the Rules Committee on December 3, and championed by Senator Cornyn. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition. and Forestry and having spearheaded the effort to design and build the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, I appreciate the goal of this legislation, but also the challenges getting the effort across the goal line. H.R. 2420 has an honorable cause: to build a museum that focuses on the legacy of the Latino people, one that is embedded in the history of the United States. The purpose of the National Museum of the American Latino is to serve as the premier location for people to learn about Latino contributions to life, art, history, and culture in the United States. I support such an effort. However, I raise one issue with the legislation, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's historic main headquarters building is specified in the bill as a potential location for the museum. USDA has been headquartered at the location on the National Mall since 1868. The main building was renamed in 1995 in honor of one of the longest serving members of Congress, Jaime L. Whitten of Mississippi.…”