US Panel calls for Smithsonian Latino Museum

 A federal commission calls for a national museum dedicated to the history of American Latino and culture to be built next to the Capitol in the Smithsonian Institution to join ethnic museums on the history of native American and African-American.

A copy of the report of the commission obtained by the Associated Press advance his exit Thursday, said that the Museum would represent Latinos on the National Mall where their heritage has been absent.

"The mall, more than any other public space in our country indeed tell the story of America, and yet this story is not complete," wrote the President of the Henry r. Munoz III commission. "It is also a living memorial that recognizes that the Latinos were here well before 1776, and that in this new century, the future is more Latino, more than 50 million people and growing."

The commission shall submit its report Thursday to the Congress and the White House.

It calls the Museum be established as the Smithsonian American Latino Museum. The commission recommends that Congress provide half the cost of a Museum of $ 600 million to be built near the mirror of water on the grounds of the Capitol. Private donations would cover the rest.

The original plans for Washington called for museums or civic buildings such sites around the Capitol, the report notes.

Since 2009, the commission has studied the feasibility of such a Museum, the fundraising potential and how it would affect local and regional Latino museums. It relies also on models from National Museum of Smithsonian of the American Indian and its planned National Museum of African American History and Culture, is expected to open in four years near the Washington Monument.

The report presents a case to track the 500 years of indigenous peoples and Latino history with roots in Europe, Africa and Asia before the English settlers founded Jamestown. He Spanish explorers note were the first to land in Florida and established outposts that led finally to cities such as San Francisco and Santa Fe, n.m..

It follows a report from 1994 to the Smithsonian "Stubborn neglect" which found that U.S. Hispanics were the only large contributor to American civilization not definitively recognized the museum complex.

The bipartisan commission proposal comes at a time of budget constraints, and as many groups wants to add museums on the National Mall, including sites devoted to the history of women, immigration and gays.

"Some will ask in these very difficult economic times, how we can afford such a business," wrote Munoz. "The real question is how we can not.".

Former President George w. Bush signed the legislation establishing the Latino Museum commission in 2008, and President Barack Obama, with the leaders of the Congress, appointed a commission of 23 members. It includes Eva Longoria TV "Desperate Housewives", producer Emilio Estefan and others for their expertise in museums, fundraising and Latino culture.