[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23591-23593]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTION OF COUNTRY MUSIC TO AMERICAN LIFE AND 
                                CULTURE

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (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.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 650

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may 
have 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend 
their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 650 into the 
Record.

[[Page 23592]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous influence 
that country music has made on American culture.
  The themes invoked in country music resonate with important American 
values such as responsibility, determination, and hard work. Some 
country songs foster an appreciation of the important sacrifices made 
by our men and women serving in our Armed Forces. ``Only in America,'' 
by Brooks and Dunn, and ``Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle 
Fly,'' by Aaron Tippin, encourage patriotism and the pursuit of the 
American Dream. Other songs, like Dolly Parton's ``Nine to Five'' and 
Loretta Lynn's ``The Pill,'' echo the struggles of rural and working 
class women and have become anthems of the women's equality movement.
  In addition to powerful patriotic lyrics, the country music industry 
has also directly supported the causes of our Armed Forces. Portions of 
the proceeds from some patriotic compilations have even gone to support 
the United Service Organizations' active duty troops and families of 
fallen soldiers.
  Country music is rooted in the folk traditions of the British Isles. 
In the New World, those roots meshed with immigrant and African 
influences. Many gospel, rock & roll, blues, and pop music derives from 
elements originally heard in country music. Famous artists such as 
Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and Garth Brooks were influenced by the 
sounds and instruments of this music.
  Every stage of country's long history has left an imprint on the 
music. Today, country is many sounds and many styles, some as old as 
the fiddle and bow, others as new as tomorrow's technology. But we will 
continue to hear about people's unique experiences through what we call 
country music.

                              {time}  1445

  Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for this resolution, 
and thank Representative Stearns for bringing this bill forward. I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I rise today in support of House Resolution 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.
  The creation of country music can be isolated to the United States. 
Its origins are rooted in the multitude of ethnicities found in the 
people of our country. The traditional music of the British Isles 
mingled with the music of African slaves and several other immigrant 
groups to create the unique sound that is country music. The new music 
first became popular nationally in the 1920s and was then called 
``hillbilly music.'' The first country song was broadcast on the radio 
in 1922.
  Since that time, numerous subgenres have developed within country 
music. Bluegrass, honky-tonk, country pop, and gospel are just four 
examples of genres that have developed within country music. Today more 
than 10 subgenres of country music exist.
  Since country music first became popular in the 1920s, it has 
continued to increase in popularity. In the 1930s and 1940s, it made 
its debut in Hollywood movies and became even more popular. In the 
1950s and 1960s, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash topped the charts with 
their own brands of the music. The 1970s and 1980s saw Willie Nelson 
and Dolly Parton become music icons for their roles in the 
popularization of country music. Today, country music has its own 
television channel, a multitude of radio stations dedicated to it in 
every section of the country, and its own system of awards.
  The popularity of country music has spread beyond the United States 
in recent years. Canada and Australia have grown increasingly fond of 
the music. But country music will always be recognized as a uniquely 
American art form. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague from Florida, 
Cliff Stearns.
  Mr. STEARNS. I thank my colleague, and I thank my Democrat colleague 
for recognizing this important bill, H. Res. 650. The history of this 
country and the history of country-western music sort of work together. 
The motto of the United States is ``E Pluribus Unum,'' meaning out of 
many, one. It depicts the history and origin of this great country. 
Now, my colleagues, the history of country music resembles very similar 
characteristics, with the many styles that are prevalent today. As 
mentioned earlier, country music can trace its roots all the way back 
to the folk tradition of the British Isles and the Celts of Central and 
Western Europe.
  However, here in the United States, early immigrants as well as 
African slaves contributed to a new distinct style that continued to 
develop through the 18th and 19th centuries. And as mentioned, in 1922, 
the first country music performance was broadcast on the radio, and it 
was a song entitled ``Sallie Gooden'' performed by fiddler, A.C. 
Robertson. It was clear at that point that America had created a brand 
new sound, and it started to take off.
  And we know that the influence of American country music is 
pervasive. Its popularity has extended beyond just the southern part of 
the United States or the Appalachian Mountains to everywhere in 
America, all over the world, in fact, with large fan bases in Canada 
and Australia. And there's many substyles of country-western music, 
like bluegrass, folk and gospel. They've all combined to provide a 
unique instrumentation of country-western music with powerful vocals to 
create one of a kind sounds.
  As mentioned, Elvis Presley was one of these. Also Garth Brooks. I 
think most households will recognize those two names. Elvis Presley has 
all his faithful fans. In fact, he's imitated in Las Vegas all the 
time, and he has a charitable foundation that works to provide 
education and care for those in need. And of course, Garth Brooks, with 
over 128 million records sold, remains the top-selling solo artist in 
United States history. The live performances of Garth Brooks set the 
standard for musicians of all styles in all the world. He continues to 
use the power of his music to help others, in fact, performing a 2008 
charity concert to raise money for victims of the California wildfires.
  So having knowledge of history makes us more appreciative of what we 
have today in country-western music. Willie Nelson states that country 
music is where you tell your life stories. The history of country music 
is a great story; it's an American story. I should know. I had the 
opportunity to manage a Quality Inn, a 156-room hotel, and we had a 
restaurant, and we had a great country-western bar which I named the 
Ocala Corral. We taught the two-step dance, and I would bring in bands 
every 2 weeks--and, perhaps if it was a hot band, it would be six 
weeks--from Memphis, Tennessee.
  And I'd bring these talented bands down to Ocala, Florida. We'd teach 
the two-step. The number of people that'd come in for a special band, 
when I hit the right country-western music talent correctly, would just 
storm the hotel. These bands would provide wonderful entertainment and 
provided a popular spot for country-western music in Ocala, Florida, 
which is the heart of Florida, really.
  So my colleagues, I rise today in honor of country-western music, its 
heritage, and hope you all join me and celebrate the impact it's had on 
our American life.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire if the gentleman 
from Wisconsin has any additional speakers.
  Mr. PETRI. I do.
  Mr. POLIS. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to our 
colleague from Nashville, Tennessee, Marsha Blackburn.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues today in joyfully

[[Page 23593]]

rising in strong support of House Resolution 650. The cultural and 
financial impact of country music on Nashville and indeed our State and 
our Nation cannot be overstated. From the daily recording sessions on 
Music Row to the annual CMA Music Festival in June, and the annual 
awards show that takes place this month, country music is the lifeblood 
of Nashville and the reason we are affectionately known as Music City 
USA.
  The music industry creates employment opportunities in many 
industries, including musicians, songwriters, agents, managers, audio 
engineers, public relations and promotion firms, financial services, 
security, stage promotion, stage production, transportation operators, 
and business services. And Madam Speaker, most of these are small 
businesses, and they are fueled, not only by the love of the music, but 
also by that entrepreneurial spirit that draws so many people into the 
music industry.
  This vital industry maintains tens of thousands of jobs. And it is 
responsible for generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue 
and in economic impact for our local economy. The entertainment product 
created is enjoyed not only coast-to-coast but also around the globe, 
and it plays a significant role in our Nation's trade products, 
certainly bringing joy to hundreds of millions of people around the 
world each and every day, many of those choosing to come to America and 
choosing to come to the home of country music to visit and experience 
this uniquely American art form.
  So it is with great pride that I, along with my colleagues and on 
behalf of my constituents in Tennessee's Seventh Congressional 
District, rise today to take a moment to recognize the tremendous 
impact of country music, our unique American art form, and to join in 
asking my colleagues to join with us in this celebration.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire if the gentleman 
from Wisconsin has any additional speakers.
  Mr. PETRI. I have no additional speakers, and yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I yield back.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 650.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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