PAAIA Asks Congress to Act on Museum Resolution
PAAIA Joins 47 Different Ethnic Groups Asking House to Support the National Museum of the American People
April 24, 2012, Washington, D.C. – On April 18, 2012, 85 organizations representing 47 different ethnic groups asked House members to support a bipartisan resolution (H.Con.Res 63) calling for a the formation of a bipartisan Presidential Commission to study the establishment of the National Museum of the American People. The groups emphasized in the letter that they are not seeking federal dollars to either fund the study commission or, in the future, to fund the planning, building or operation of this new cultural institution.
The letter was sent to over 100 individual members of Congress, including co-chairs of the bipartisan House ethnic caucuses, members of the House Natural Resources Committee and members of House cultural caucuses. To date, 31 bipartisan Members of Congress have signed on as cosponsors, including the co-chairs of 16 different ethnic Congressional caucuses. Rep. Jim Moran, D-VA, is the lead sponsor.
The Museum of the American People would tell the full story of the making of the American people, starting with the first migrations some 20,000 years ago and extending that story through the waves of migration and immigration that lead up to the present day. The museum would also highlight the diversity and richness of the cultures that form the current US society and communities and emphasize the right of everyone to both an original identity as well as an American identity.
The Coalition of the National Museum of the American People is an alliance of 150 ethnic organizations (Irish, Italian, Greek, Jewish, and Polish, to name a few) that was formed to build support for a national commission to study the establishment of the Museum. PAAIA joined the Coalition to ensure that the story of Iranian immigrants is also included in the Museum.
Click here to read H.Con.Res. 63.
Click here to view letter to Congress.
Click HERE to Take Action Today. Help project a more accurate and positive image of Iranian Americans by encouraging your Representative to support the formation of a bipartisan Presidential Commission to study the establishment of a National Museum of the American People.
