Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) made an announcement Tuesday he hopes will help visitors to the nation’s capital recognize the achievements and contributions of American Latinos year-around. [IMGCAP(1)]

At a press conference in front of the Smithsonian Institution’s Castle, Becerra said he will soon introduce legislation to establish and fund a federal commission to explore the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.

The legislation would create a 23-member commission that would have two years to study funding and building the museum.

If constructed, the National Museum of the American Latino would be the 17th institution of the Smithsonian.

Becerra’s press secretary, Steve Haro, said his boss feels that “this is a museum whose time has come” and that although the commission would look into where to build the museum, “the desire would be to build it on the [National] Mall.”

“This process will not be a fast one — but it will be successful,” Becerra said.

— John McArdle