Political Quotes

“I have come to the floor today and will shortly ask for unanimous consent on H.R. 2420, the National Museum for the American Latino Act. Let me just thank my colleague, the senior Senator from Texas, Mr. Cornyn, who has been a great partner throughout this entire process, a strong advocate who helped us navigate some of the challenges we have had along the way. I am also thrilled to be on the floor with Senator Collins, who will shortly make a motion on the Women's History Museum, which I strongly support, and I appreciate her support for the American Latino Museum. Today the Senate stands at the precipice of history. We have before us an opportunity to set in motion a process that will eventually culminate in the establishment of a national museum devoted to the history, struggles, and achievements of Latinos and Latinas in the United States. This is long overdue. Some colleagues say: Well, why do we need another museum? Well, it was in 1994 when the Smithsonian Task Force on Latino Issues published its report entitled ``Willful Neglect''--a report acknowledging the Institution's own glaring omission of Hispanic history and culture. This is what the report found: The Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum complex in the world, displays a pattern of willful neglect towards . . . Latinos in the United States. Because of both indigenous roots and Spanish heritage, Latinos predate the British in the [United States].…”