Bill creating study commission for museum is law

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President Joe Biden has signed into law, a bill which establishes a Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act (H.R. 3525).

Congresswoman Uifaatali Amata was an original cosponsor of this bill upon introduction in February with Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), and it passed the House in April, followed by the Senate on May 19th.

The legislation creates a bipartisan commission to plan the creation of the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history, culture, and accomplishments of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). All the AAPI communities, taken in combination, make up the fastest growing population segment of the United States.

“I look forward to some of American Samoa’s story and our ancient island culture having a role in a future National Museum,” said the congresswoman. “It’s also a good reminder to prize our own local collection of heritage museum items. Whether in the islands or in the states, our next generation of Samoan youth needs to know their origins, and we are all caretakers of our fa’a Samoa.”

The new law creates an eight-member panel of experts in museum planning or AAPI research and culture to establish the project as a viable objective.

The United States already has national museums dedicated to African American heritage and Native American history, so the Commission has those precedents.

The panel will recommend an action plan to Congress, begin a fundraising plan, identify possible locations, seek out independent review, and submit its 18-month study to Congress. Finally, Commission will also recommend if it should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex.