# 119-s-1304: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act

119-s-1304, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1304
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1304
- Congress: 119
- Title: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Would authorize the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino to be located within the Reserve of the National Mall.** It would also create rules for transferring federally managed land to the Smithsonian and set standards and reporting requirements for the museum's exhibits and governance. - Hispanic and Latino communities: Requires the Board of Trustees to ensure exhibits and programs accurately represent the varied cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic or Latino communities and to seek guidance from a defined "broad array" of knowledgeable and respected sources when creating or substantially revising exhibits. - Smithsonian and other federal agencies: Allows a Museum site to be sited in the Mall Reserve notwithstanding other laws and sets a process for sites under another agency. The Board must notify the agency head, that head must tell six specified congressional committee leaders, and then transfer administrative jurisdiction to the Smithsonian as soon as practicable. - Oversight and planning: Would require the Secretary of the Smithsonian to report to designated congressional committees not later than 120 days after enactment and every 2 years thereafter on actions taken by the Director and Board to comply, including substantial revisions and future planning.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moreno, Bernie [R-OH] (R-OH), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger museum exhibits and reports: benefit, medium. If enacted, the Board would have to make sure exhibits and programs accurately show the many cultures, histories, events, and values of Hispanic or Latino communities. The Board must seek and use advice from a broad array of respected sources representing diverse political viewpoints when making or…
- New siting rules for Mall and federal land: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would allow the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino to be placed inside the National Mall Reserve, overriding other laws that might block that siting. The Board could not pick a site under another agency's control without telling that agency first. That agency he…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.

## Sources
- [119-s-1304 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1304)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1304 (as of 2026-04-21).