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Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill on Monday that also greenlit the establishment of two new Smithsonian museums that will honor Latinx and women s history, marking a victory for museum advocates who have been fighting for decades.
The Smithsonian Institution, which currently operates 19 museums and a national zoo, needs federal approval in order to construct a new museum. Utah senator Mike Lee, a Republican, cast the lone vote blocking the legislation earlier this month. Now, with the National Museum of the American Latino Act and Smithsonian Women s History Museum Act folded into the coronavirus relief package, the legislation heads to President Donald Trump s desk.
5,600-page government spending bill provides stimulus checks, Smithsonian museums & horse safety
and last updated 2020-12-22 10:44:51-05
Both houses of Congress passed a nearly
5,600-page bill late Monday night; the COVID relief package was combined with a massive $1.4 trillion government spending bill to keep federal agencies funded for the next fiscal year and set government priorities.
The relief package contains stimulus checks up to $600 for individuals, help for small businesses and for renters. But the bill overall also contains funding for two Smithsonian museums, a statement on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and extending tax breaks for NASCAR racing in addition to other government priorities.
Smithsonian
Originally published on December 22, 2020 11:56 am
The creation of new Smithsonian museums dedicated to Latinos and women can now move forward. Earlier this month, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) was the lone vote blocking legislation, saying separate-but-equal museums would further divide an already divided nation. Supporters of both museums quickly moved to ensure the museums would be included in the $900 billion year-end spending package which was passed by Congress on Monday and now heads to President Trump s desk. We have overcome tremendous obstacles and unbelievable hurdles to get to this historic moment, but, as I ve said before, Latinos are used to overcoming obstacles. - Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
After Decades of Lobbying, Congress Has Approved the Creation of New Smithsonian Museums for American Latinos and Women’s History
Legislation for the new Smithsonian museums was included in the 5,500-page omnibus spending bill passed last night.
December 22, 2020
Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) appears on SiriusXM Presents: Women In Congress. Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM.
After decades of stops and starts, Congress has finally approved the creation of two new Smithsonian museums, one dedicated to American Latinos and the other to women’s history.
Legislation calling for the building of the National Museum of the American Latino and an American Women’s History Museum on or near the National Mall in Washington, DC, was included in the 5,500-page year-end omnibus spending bill passed last night by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
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