Biden signs law toward building 'long overdue' Asian American Pacific Islander Museum

President Biden has signed into law a congressional bill that takes a big step toward creating a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, saying that having one in the U.S. is "long overdue."

Biden signed the bill Monday that authorizes a commission to study the project, which has the potential to become a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution. 

The president made the announcement in a press conference opened by Vice President Kamala Harris, who said having such a museum would hep "fight ignorance" and "dispel misinformation" about Asian community. Harris said her hope is that by educating people with knowledge and context of Asian history, Americans can live in a world without fear. 

"The Chinese exclusion act, the internment of Japanese Americans, the murder of Vincent Chin, discrimination of the South East Asian after 9/11, and today's epidemic of hate, which is fueling violent acts against many communities including the AA and NHPI community. Because you see this is also American history," Harris said.

The House and Senate majority and minority leaders will be in charge of assigning two members each to a committee tasked with brining such project to fruition. However, there will no federal funding for the committee, which must raise its own money.  

Reps. Grace Meng and Doris Matsui and Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Mazie Hirono, all Democrats, were all honored during the ceremony in which Meng was given the signing pen.

"Thank you Mr. President for signing my bill that seeks to create the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history & culture of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders! Honored to stand next to you at the White House as you made my measure the law of the land." Meng tweeted.