[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 115 (Monday, September 25, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S9188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION ACT

  Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleagues support 
the National Recording Preservation Act, legislation that maintains and 
preserves America's most significant recordings during the first 
century of recorded sound for future generations to enjoy. This 
legislation is especially important to my state of Louisiana, which has 
its own rich and distinct musical tradition.
  Louisiana is known around the world for having a culture all its own. 
We are best known for our good music, good food and good times. We 
especially celebrate our cultural heritage through our music.
  The Storyville district in New Orleans is said to be the birthplace 
of jazz--America's only indigenous musical genre. Louis Armstrong, 
perhaps the most influential jazz artist of all time, grew up orphaned 
in New Orleans when jazz music was coming of age.
  Acadiana is the home of great cajun and zydeco artists like the late 
Beau Jocque, the late Clifton Chenier, Michael Doucet and Beausoleil, 
and Zachary Richard, all of whom communicate to the rest of the world 
what life is like on the bayou.
  In the northern part of our state, Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium 
was the home of the Louisiana Hayride, where Elvis Presley got his 
first break after being turned down by the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee. 
The Louisiana Hayride shaped the country music scene in the 1940's and 
50's by showcasing artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Willie 
Nelson in its weekly Saturday night radio broadcasts.
  Bluesmen like Tabby Thomas and Snooks Eaglin have kept the Delta 
blues tradition alive and well in Louisiana. The Neville Brothers, 
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, all the talented members of the Marsalis family, 
and many others, continue to keep us connected to our culture and help 
us celebrate it.
  According to the Louisiana Music Commission, the overall economic 
impact of the music industry in Louisiana is about $2.2 billion as of 
1996, up from $1.4 billion in 1990. So music isn't just important to my 
state's culture, it is important to its economy. Unfortunately, since 
many recordings are captured only on perishable materials like tape, we 
are in danger of losing these priceless artifacts to time and decay.
  Recognizing the importance of preserving Louisiana's musical 
heritage, I have sponsored The National Recording Preservation Act. 
This legislation, which is modeled after a similar law to preserve 
America's disappearing film recordings, creates a National Recording 
Registry within the Library of Congress
  The registry will identify the most historically, aesthetically and 
culturally significant recordings of the first century of recorded 
sound and maintains these for future generations to enjoy. The registry 
will include works as diverse as slave songs, opera, world music and 
heavy metal. I hope Louisiana's many and varied contributions to the 
field of music would be well represented in this national registry.
  The National Recording Preservation Act directs the Librarian of 
Congress to select up to 25 recordings or groups of recordings for the 
registry each year. Nominations will be taken from the general public, 
as well as from industry representatives. Recordings will be eligible 
for selection 10 years after their creation.
  To help the Librarian of Congress implement a comprehensive recording 
preservation program, this legislation establishes a National Recording 
Preservation Board. The board will work with artists, archivists, 
educators, historians, copyright owners, recording industry 
representatives and others to establish the program.
  The bill also charters a National Recording Preservation Foundation 
to raise funds to promote the preservation of recordings and ensure the 
public's access to the registry.
  To maintain the success of the music industry in Louisiana, we must 
strive to inspire our youth by exposing them to their musical heritage. 
This legislation helps us take steps to cultivate our traditions and 
our young artists, and will allow us to continue to attract tourists to 
the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Zydeco Festival in 
Plaisance, Louisiana.
  Congress should enact the National Recording Preservation Act so 
future generations can fully appreciate Louisiana's contributions to 
the history of recorded music in our country.

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