[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE 2012 WORLD CHOIR GAMES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign 
Relations Committee be discharged from further action on S. Res. 325.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 325) recognizing the 2012 World Choir 
     Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a global event of cultural 
     significance to the United States and expressing support for 
     designation of July 2012 as World Choir Games Month in the 
     United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 325) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 325

       Whereas the World Choir Games, the largest choral 
     competition in the world, takes place every 2 years, is known 
     as the ``Olympics of choral music'', and has the goal of 
     uniting people from all countries through singing in peaceful 
     competition;
       Whereas, from July 4 through July 14, 2012, Cincinnati, 
     Ohio, will be first city in the United States to host the 
     World Choir Games;
       Whereas the Seventh World Choir Games are expected to 
     include more than 400 choirs from more than 70 countries, 
     20,000 official participants, including performers, event 
     officials, delegations, and international jury members, and 
     up to 200,000 spectators;
       Whereas choirs will compete in 23 different musical genres 
     evaluated by an impartial international jury of choral music 
     experts;
       Whereas the genres of barbershop and show choir will be 
     added as competition categories for the first time in 
     recognition of their popularity in the United States;
       Whereas the uniting of the people of the world through 
     singing in peaceful competition in the United States in 2012 
     affirms the commitment of the United States to global 
     cultural awareness, understanding, and appreciation; and
       Whereas it is appropriate to designate July 2012 as World 
     Choir Games Month in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the global significance of the Seventh World 
     Choir Games to be hosted in Cincinnati, Ohio, from July 4 
     through July 14, 2012;
       (2) recognizes Interkultur, the Cincinnati Organizing 
     Committee for the Seventh World Choir Games, the Cincinnati 
     USA Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city of Cincinnati, 
     and the State of Ohio for their efforts to secure and host 
     the World Choir Games;
       (3) expresses appreciation to all people of the world who 
     will participate in the World Choir Games, either in 
     competition or as visitors, and to all of the volunteers who 
     will welcome the participants and other visitors to the 
     United States;
       (4) supports the designation of July 2012 as World Choir 
     Games Month in the United States; and
       (5) renews the commitment of the United States to world 
     peace and friendship and increasing global cultural 
     understanding through singing in peaceful competition.

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