House passes bill seeking establishment of a National Asian American Pacific Islander Museum

Rep. Grace Meng is pushing for a National Asian American Museum.

As the nation prepares to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the US House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY, that seeks to create the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history, culture, and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans.   

 

The bipartisan bill, House Resolution 3525, passed Monday (April 27) unanimously by voice vote, and now heads to the Senate.

“For the last seven years, I have worked to push this legislation through Congress, and I am thrilled that it has finally passed out of the House of Representatives,” said Congresswoman Meng, the First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been pivotal in contributing to the growth and prosperity of our nation since its founding.

 

Entitled the “Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act,” Meng’s bill would create a commission of eight individuals with various expertise in museum planning or Asian Pacific American history and culture to examine the feasibility of establishing, maintaining, funding and operating such a facility in the nation’s capital, possibly as part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. which is the world’s largest museum and research complex.

"We have helped make the United States the greatest country in the world, but unfortunately many remain unaware of the crucial role we’ve played throughout our history," said Meng in a statement. "It’s time for that to change and creating a national museum would ensure there is a physical space to commemorate and share our story with future generations.

"Over my Congressional career, we have seen the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened, and I have been proud to stand by my colleagues as we passed legislation to create a National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women’s History Museum. But never before has a bill like this, that seeks to advance the history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through a national museum, been approved by the House, and I’m honored to champion this effort.

"Our achievements, history, and experiences are American as everybody else’s, and we must recognize that the narrative of the Asian Pacific American community is woven into our greater American story. I am excited that we are one step closer to this bill becoming law, and one step closer to a national museum filled with our Asian Pacific American history being established.”

The Congresswoman’s measure would require the commission it establishes to:

• Report recommendations for a plan of action on the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture;
• Develop a fundraising plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the museum through public contributions;
• Obtain an independent review of this fundraising plan, including an analysis of the resources necessary to fund the construction of the museum and its operations and maintenance without reliance on federal funds;
• Report on the availability and cost of acquiring collections for the museum, identify potential locations for the facility in Washington, D.C., and determine its regional impact on other related museums; and
• Submit to Congress a legislative plan of action on whether to and how to establish and construct the museum.

The legislation would also direct the commission’s recommendations to address whether the museum should be part of the Smithsonian Institution. The commission would have 18 months to complete the full study and its members would be appointed by the House Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, House Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader.

Meng’s legislation passed with 120 cosponsors including Democrats and Republicans. A copy of the bill and additional details about the measure can be viewed here.

The legislation's passage "is a necessary step in the process towards establishing the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history and culture of our communities," said Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). 

"A museum that is dedicated to telling the story of our communities as part of American history not only helps educate our country about our accomplishments and struggles, but showing how our history IS American history is a powerful tool to combat anti-Asian hate and xenophobia."

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