President Biden called for the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino and the American Women’s History Museum to be built on the National Mall in Washington.

Speaking at the official reception of Hispanic Heritage Month, at the WhiteHouse, Biden endorsed the request to include museums in the nation's most visited national park, supporting a major symbolic demand made by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) on Thursday, September 30.

At the time President Biden declared, “You’re proof that Hispanic history is American history. For that reason, Congress should take action to honor the Latino community and women with their own museums on the National Mall. It’s time”.

According to TheHill “The presidential endorsement is a major victory for the CHC and the museum’s backers, who had put significant public pressure on Biden to support their bid. All 36 members of the CHC wrote to Biden on Thursday, asking him to explicitly endorse the idea of building the Latino Museum and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall”.

For Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), who led the letter to the president, “Today’s remarks by President Biden make clear that he stands with Latinos across this country and wholeheartedly believes our stories deserve their rightful place on the National Mall. As we move forward in the site selection process for the National Museum of the American Latino, I look forward to his continued support”.

Biden’s endorsement reflects a similar move by former President George W. Bush, whose support for the National Museum of African American History and Culture was a significant step towards building the museum on its location on the National Mall, The Hill reports.

“Today, President Biden stood by the over 62 million Latinos in the United States and affirmed that the National Mall is the only rightful place for the National Museum of the American Latino”, said Estuardo Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino.

“We applaud the President for leaning into the efforts of hundreds over the last 30 years to ensure our complete story is told on our country’s grandest stage. We will continue to work with the Biden Administration, Congress, and the Smithsonian to ensure all pathways are cleared for our nation’s next great museum to be built where it belongs — on the National Mall”, added Rodríguez.