During Hispanic Heritage Month in 2003, Representative Xavier Becerra introduced legislation that, when his ultimate dream was realized, would establish a museum in the nation’s capital to educate visitors from around the world about the history, culture, and art of the American Latino community. As his co-author on 2007’s H.R. 512, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen shares his belief that national museums should reflect the whole of America.

The bill, unanimously passed by the House of Representatives on February 6, 2007, establishes a commission to explore the museum’s viability, develop a fundraising plan for a public-private partnership, and report to Congress with a plan for taking the museum from concept to reality.

The son of working-class immigrants, Representative Becerra was the first in his family to graduate from college, earning his B.A in Economics and Juris Doctorate from Stanford University. Congressman Becerra represents California’s 31^st Congressional District and is the first Latino to serve on the House Committee on Ways and Means. He is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a board member for the Close Up Foundation, the nation’s largest youth civic education organization.