[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JOAQUIN CASTRO

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Memorial High 
School in San Antonio for its exceptional music education program. This 
year, Memorial is one of just 120 schools in the nation to be awarded 
the prestigious SupportMusic Merit Award from The National Association 
of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The school's outstanding 
commitment to music education is particularly evident in the spirited, 
talented, Memorial High band.
  Music education is so important for our young people. Not only does 
it help students develop leadership skills, but new research shows that 
participation in music education programs can improve brain function, 
spark language development, and lead to increased academic success in 
subjects like reading and math.
  Despite the proven benefits of music education, arts departments are 
often the first to suffer budget cuts, or to be eliminated altogether, 
when school funding is tight. Receiving the NAMM SupportMusic Merit 
Award helps schools like Memorial High demonstrate the importance of 
music education to their students' overall success in school and draw 
attention to the need for further resources to sustain these vital 
programs in the future.
  Again, I want to congratulate Memorial High School for this 
achievement and for giving San Antonio students the opportunity to 
experience the joy of music and all the other academic advantages music 
education affords.

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