[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 119 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 119

   Expressing support for designation of March 2023 as Music in Our 
                             Schools Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2023

  Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Tonko, Mr. 
     Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Lynch, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Lee of 
California, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Ross, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. 
Keating, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Grijalva, 
Mr. Cicilline, and Mr. Evans) submitted the following resolution; which 
      was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for designation of March 2023 as Music in Our 
                             Schools Month.

Whereas music has been present in every known human culture throughout history 
        and modern times;
Whereas music is one of the most important manifestations of our cultural 
        heritage, as it embodies our national identity and illustrates our 
        shared history;
Whereas music education helps communities share ideas and values among cultures 
        and generations, promoting a more cooperative and inclusive citizenry;
Whereas singing has existed in American classrooms since before the signing of 
        the Declaration of Independence;
Whereas, in 1838, music as its own curriculum was first adopted by public 
        authority in the public schools of Boston, Massachusetts;
Whereas the development of a musical people has been and remains dependent on a 
        public commitment to the teaching of music in all schools;
Whereas State legislatures and educational agencies have supported music as part 
        of the regular school curriculum;
Whereas the Every Student Succeeds Act identified music as part of a well-
        rounded education;
Whereas music is a means for exploring the emotional and aesthetic dimensions of 
        the human experience;
Whereas music holds intrinsic value as an art form, providing opportunity for 
        self-expression, fellowship, and spiritual fulfillment;
Whereas research has documented that participation in school music promotes 
        student engagement, leading to improved social and academic outcomes, 
        particularly for at-risk students;
Whereas research has documented that participation in school music also promotes 
        cognitive, social, and emotional development, exercising skills valuable 
        to the workforce such as motivation, attentiveness, self-discipline, 
        teamwork, persistence, empathy, respect, and leadership; and
Whereas students attending public school in urban or rural communities, public 
        schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families, and 
        public schools that are majority Black, Hispanic, or Native American 
        experience the most inequity in access to music education: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
designation of Music in Our Schools Month and recognizes--
            (1) the fundamental importance of music to the Nation's 
        culture;
            (2) the long history of music as an integral part of the 
        Nation's schools;
            (3) the disparate access to high-quality music education 
        that exists across the country; and
            (4) the need to do more to support the teaching and 
        learning of music in public schools.
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