[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 650 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 650

 Recognizing that country music has made a tremendous contribution to 
American life and culture and declaring country music to be a uniquely 
                           American art form.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 15, 2009

 Mr. Stearns submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Education and Labor

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing that country music has made a tremendous contribution to 
American life and culture and declaring country music to be a uniquely 
                           American art form.

Whereas country music was created in the United States and its distinctive sound 
        makes it a uniquely American institution;
Whereas country music is rooted in the folk traditions of the British Isles;
Whereas in the United States, those roots became entangled with the ethnic music 
        of immigrants from other regions and African slaves to create a uniquely 
        American sound;
Whereas in 1922, a country music performance was broadcast on the radio for the 
        first time, and the earliest commercial recording of country music was 
        made, featuring the song ``Sallie Gooden'', performed by fiddlist A.C. 
        ``Eck'' Robertson;
Whereas throughout the 1920s, the earliest country music records and radio 
        programs brought the music out of the rural heartland and into homes 
        across the United States;
Whereas no institution is more closely associated with country music than WSM 
        Radio's Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, which, since 1925, has 
        introduced the United States to many of the great talents of country 
        music through live Saturday night performances;
Whereas two of the top selling solo artists of all time, Elvis Presley and Garth 
        Brooks, are rooted in country music;
Whereas Garth Brooks, with 128,000,000 records sold, is the top selling solo 
        artist in United States history;
Whereas top country musician Willie Nelson said that country music is where 
        ``people tell their life stories''; and
Whereas country music continues to increase in popularity in the United States 
        and around the world: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) declares country music to be a uniquely American art 
        form; and
            (2) recognizes that country music should be honored for its 
        contributions to American life and culture.
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