[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10798-H10799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSIC

  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 27) recognizing the importance 
of African-American music to global culture and calling on the people 
of the United States to study, reflect on, and celebrate African-
American music.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 27

       Whereas artists, songwriters, producers, engineers, 
     educators, executives, and other professionals in the music 
     industry provide inspiration and leadership through their 
     creation of music, dissemination of educational information, 
     and financial contributions to charitable and community-based 
     organizations;
       Whereas African-American music is indigenous to the United 
     States and originates from African genres of music;
       Whereas African-American genres of music such as gospel, 
     blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, rap, and hip-hop have their 
     roots in the African-American experience;
       Whereas African-American music has a pervasive influence on 
     dance, fashion, language, art, literature, cinema, media, 
     advertisements, and other aspects of culture;
       Whereas the prominence of African-American music in the 
     20th century has reawakened interest in the legacy and 
     heritage of the art form of African-American music;
       Whereas African-American music embodies the strong presence 
     of, and significant contributions made by, African-Americans 
     in the music industry and society as a whole;
       Whereas the multibillion dollar African-American music 
     industry contributes greatly to the domestic and worldwide 
     economy; and
       Whereas African-American music has a positive impact on and 
     broad appeal to diverse groups, both nationally and 
     internationally: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance of the contributions of 
     African-American music to global culture and the positive 
     impact of African-American music on global commerce; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to take the 
     opportunity to study, reflect on, and celebrate the majesty, 
     vitality, and importance of African-American music.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Norwood) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).


                             General Leave

  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 27.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 27 offered by my 
colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah). H. Con. Res. 
27 recognizes the unique contributions and importance of African-
American music to American culture and calls on the people of the 
United States to study and celebrate our African-American music 
heritage.
  I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), 
for introducing this resolution. African Americans have had a profound 
influence on American music. In fact, in my hometown, Augusta, Georgia, 
we can lay claim to more than its great share of African-American 
musicians. Both the renowned opera and gospel singer, Jessye Norman and 
the godfather of soul himself, James Brown hail from the Augusta area.
  Finally, I would also like to point out that the resolution states 
that African-American musicians have not only influenced American music 
but also have had a profound impact on American culture. This influence 
can be seen in dance, language, fashion, and literature.
  This resolution rightly recognizes the contributions of African-
American music and its larger effect in shaping much of the social and 
cultural and political fabric of our Nation. I urge my colleagues to 
vote in favor of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 27, I rise in strong 
support of this resolution. This measure formally recognizes the 
importance of African-American music to our culture here in the United 
States as well as the global culture.
  Through jazz, blues, gospel, rock, rhythm and blues, and hip-hop, 
African-American musicians have influenced art, literature, fashion, 
dance, and the media. African-American music has contributed 
internationally to international commerce as well as adding billions of 
dollars each year to the world economy.
  Perhaps the greatest impact of African-American music is right here 
at home where the expression of beliefs and hopes and struggles and of 
triumphs have been woven into the social, cultural, economic, and 
political fabric of the United States and has made our Nation unique.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) 
for his leadership in authoring this legislation, and I yield him such 
time as he may consume.
  (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I thank both the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Norwood) for his kind remarks and his assistance in bringing this 
resolution to the floor and also my colleague who serves with me from 
the great State of California. I think it is true that almost 
everything that needs to be said about this has been said so I will not 
belabor the point.
  I do want to thank all of my colleagues, many of whom have 
cosponsored this legislation who are on both sides of the aisle, for 
this Congress to pause and to reflect on the importance of the 
contributions of African-American music to not only this Nation's 
culture but to the world as we have on other occasions paused and 
reflected on the contributions of country or other types of music. I 
think that it is appropriate. I want to thank the leadership of the 
House for bringing this resolution to the floor.
  I would just say to my colleague from Georgia who talked about 
Augusta, Philadelphia has its own history

[[Page H10799]]

and legacy of people who have contributed to our music in this country. 
I will not go through that long list because then all of us would take 
to the floor and talk about those who may have contributed, but I do 
appreciate the pride of which he speaks for those who come from his 
great State and from his hometown.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox).
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 27 and thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me the 
time so I can speak in support.
  I congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) on this 
outstanding resolution. This is a resolution that certainly is timely. 
Here we are going to recognize through this resolution the importance 
of African-American music to global culture. Whereas African-American 
music has in fact been a positive influence, Mr. Speaker, on dance, 
fashion, language, art, literature, cinema, media and other aspects of 
culture, and the prominence of African-American music in the 20th 
century has reawakened interest in the legacy and heritage of the art 
form of African-American music. Moreover, it has embodied the strong 
presence and significant contributions made by African-Americans in the 
music industry and society as a sole. Moreover, the industry 
contributes greatly to the domestic and worldwide economy, and as well 
those great African-American musicians such as Ray Charles and Ella 
Fitzgerald to my hometown area of greater Philadelphia where the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) hails from. We have had our 
share of great African-American musicians who have gone on to not only 
entertain us here in the United States but across the world. It is to 
them that we salute tonight each of these individuals for their joint 
and collective contributions.
  I hope that those who will hear about this resolution will in fact 
find inspiration in the works and will become in fact the new heroes 
and heroines of tomorrow in providing for our entire culture the 
expansion of entertainment and of musical contribution that makes the 
rich culture that we call the United States.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Let me just conclude by saying that our list may be a little short of 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), but we will put Ms. 
Norman up against anybody that wants to sing.
  I want to just simply urge Members of this body and my colleagues to 
vote for this resolution but maybe even more importantly, if they have 
never spent a Wednesday night or a Sunday night in an African-American 
church and listened to the fabulous gospel music, I urge them to do 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boehlert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 27.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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