Meng Calls For Vote on Her Bill to Establish First National Asian Pacific American Museum
December 22, 2021
Congresswoman leads letter to head of key committee asking for the legislation to be the first measure taken up in 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, announced today that she led a letter to the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee requesting that he hold a committee vote on her legislation that seeks to create the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history, culture, and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans (APA).
Meng asked Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) to make her bill the first measure that the panel takes up in January 2022. If the legislation is approved by the Committee, it would then head for a vote on the floor of the House.
"The story of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) is interwoven within the history of America, but frequently our history is forgotten or ignored in the greater narrative of American history," the letter said. "That is why we urge you to markup this bill as a first step to creating a national museum dedicated to the history and culture of AAPIs. Our experiences – both good and bad – provide an opportunity for us to celebrate our accomplishments, honor the challenges we have overcome, and press forward toward a more perfect union."
Meng's request follows her appearance earlier this month before a Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing where she testified in support of her bill. The hearing also included supportive testimony from journalist Lisa Ling and Stop AAPI Hate Co-Founder Dr. Russell Jeung. The House Natural Resources Committee is the panel that has jurisdiction over this issue.
Entitled the "Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act," Meng's legislation would create a panel of individuals with various expertise in museum planning or APA research and culture to look into the viability 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., the world's largest museum and research complex.
A copy of Meng's letter can be viewed here and the text of the correspondence is below.
Those who signed the letter include members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
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The Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva
Chairman
House Committee on Natural Resources
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
I write to request that you include my Commission to Study the Potential Creation of A National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act,H.R. 3525, in your first markup in January 2022.
The story of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) is interwoven within the history of America, but frequently our history is forgotten or ignored in the greater narrative of American history. That is why we urge you to markup this bill as a first step to creating a national museum dedicated to the history and culture of AAPIs.
Museums are gateways to learning about ourselves, our communities, and our history. They provide space to memorialize the accomplishments of ancestors, learn from the past, and be inspired by the richness of where our country can go.
The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is filled with immense contributions and sadly embedded with stories of disenfranchisement. From the thousands of Asian immigrants who helped build vital pieces of U.S. infrastructure, to the thousands who were denied entry and citizenship because of immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act, AAPIs have shaped and been shaped by America for generations.
My legislation is the first step in creating a national museum that is dedicated to interweaving AAPI history in the broader narrative of American history. Our experiences – both good and bad – provide an opportunity for us to celebrate our accomplishments, honor the challenges we have overcome, and press forward toward a more perfect union.
That is why we urge you to take up this bill in your Committee markup and move it through the legislative process. We thank you for your leadership in ensuring that all components of our history are memorialized, and we look forward to working with you as we preserve the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Sincerely,