[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22081]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE PERFORMING RIGHTS ORGANIZATION SESAC ON ITS 75TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM COOPER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2005

  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the perfomling 
rights organization SESAC for 75 years of service to the creative 
forces in music. We in Music City U.S.A. are grateful to SESAC for its 
continuing work on behalf of the songwriters and publishers who make 
music happen.
  SESAC, which is based in my district in Nashville, has been a 
valuable force in protecting the rights of songwriters and publishers 
by defending copyrights against infringement and ensuring that artists 
receive the royalties they are due. Over the years, the many 
distinguished artists that have relied on SESAC to protect their 
artistic creations have included such singer-songwriter legends as 
Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond, Tennessee artists Arlos 
Smith, Sam and Annie Tate, and Jo Nichols, jazz luminaries Cassandra 
Wilson and Steve Coleman, R&B/Hip-Hop songwriters Bryan-Michael Cox, 
Swizz Beatz, and Teddy Riley. SESAC's musical library also includes 
such classics as Sweet Caroline, I'll Fly Away, and Forever Young, and 
renowned musicians such as Garth Brooks, U2, LeAnn Rimes, and Luciano 
Pavarotti, perform songs written by SESAC artists all over the world.
  In addition to its representation of songwriters and publishers, 
SESAC should also be commended for its work to foster public awareness 
on the importance of copyright protection and the damage done by 
piracy. As part of the Music United Coalition, SESAC took an active 
role in the debate surrounding the legality of file-sharing, which was 
the subject of a recent Supreme Court case. This year, SESAC also 
sponsored the first Recording Arts Day in Washington, which gave 
lawmakers an opportunity to leam about the many complex and 
controversial issues surrounding the music business.
  On behalf of my constituents in the Fifth District of Tennessee, I 
commend SESAC for its years of service and advocacy on behalf of the 
Nation's songwriters and music publishers, and wish the organization a 
happy 75th anniversary.

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