Congressman Castro Announces Appointment to Board of Trustees for National Museum of the American Latino
Appointment builds on Castro’s longstanding work to improve Latino representation and successful efforts to establish the Museum during his chairmanship of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from 2019-2020
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) voted to appoint him to the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the American Latino:
“The National Museum of the American Latino is a beacon of light for our communities,” said Congressman Castro. “I am deeply honored to earn the trust of my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus as our representative to the Board of Trustees. As a member of the Board, I will work to build public awareness and enthusiasm for the Museum’s mission, establish a place of honor for the Museum on the National Mall, expand full private and public-sector funding for the Museum, and ensure that it has the resources to tell the complete and vibrant stories of Latino communities throughout the United States.”
"Rep. Castro is a beacon for his ongoing commitment to Latino representation in media and the arts. The CHC will be expertly represented on a board entrusted with our American story," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), the current chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The National Museum of the American Latino is a Congressionally-chartered museum established in 2020 that will highlight the contributions of American Latinos to U.S. history and culture. The Board of Trustees advises the Museum Director and Smithsonian Leadership on key decisions relating to the Museum’s development and partners with the Institution on outreach and fundraising efforts. The Board of Trustees includes two members of Congress, one from each political party, who are designated by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Conference.
In a letter to his colleagues seeking support for appointment to the Board, Congressman Castro wrote:
“Today, Latinos are one of the fastest-growing demographics in America. In my state of Texas, Latino children make up the majority of students in our public schools and an ever-increasing share of the tax base. Our contributions are critical to America’s success, but our stories remain almost entirely missing from the American narrative.
“Over the next four years, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will lead the fight to protect Latino communities and reshape the defining narrative about who we are. As part of those efforts, we need a leader on the Board of the National Museum of the American Latino who has the experience and relationships to make sure the museum is representative of the full diversity of U.S. Latinos. I am grateful for your consideration and would be honored by your support for my appointment to the Board.”
Congressman Castro has worked for years to increase Latino representation across all industries and to build bipartisan Congressional support for the National Museum of the American Latino. He was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2420, the National Museum of the American Latino Act, which passed the House of Representatives in July 2020 and was later enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 during Congressman Castro’s tenure as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.