Obama names members to Latino museum panel

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Wednesday appointed several people to a panel studying the feasibility of creating an American Latino museum, the White House said.

Appointed to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino were entertainment mogul Emilio Estefan Jr., lawyer Andres W. Lopez, businesswoman Cindy Pena, lawyer and activist Abigail M. Pollak, and lawyer Cid Wilson, the White House said in a release.

Obama said commission members Gilberto Cardenas and Jose B. Fernandez were reappointed to the panel.

"I am pleased to appoint these outstanding men and women to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino -- a museum that would be dedicated to celebrating the history and achievements of Latinos in America," Obama said.

Legislation creating the commission was signed into law in May 2008. The 23-member group is charged to conduct a two-year study on the feasibility and planning aspects for a new national museum in Washington is dedicated to exhibiting the art, history and culture of the U.S. Latino population.