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[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 57 Introduced in House (IH)]

105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 57

Expressing the sense of Congress respecting the designation of jazz as 
                 a rare and valuable national treasure.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 8, 1997

 Mr. Conyers submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Expressing the sense of Congress respecting the designation of jazz as 
                 a rare and valuable national treasure.

Whereas jazz has achieved preeminence throughout the world as an indigenous 
        American music and art form, bringing to this country and the world a 
        uniquely American musical synthesis and culture through the African-
        American experience, and--

    (1) makes evident to the world an outstanding artistic model of 
individual expression and democratic cooperation within the creative 
process, thus fulfilling the highest ideals and aspirations of our 
republic,

    (2) is a unifying force, bridging cultural, religious, ethnic, and age 
differences in our diverse society,

    (3) is a true music of the people, finding its inspiration in the 
cultures and most personal experiences of the diverse peoples that 
constitute our Nation,

    (4) has evolved into a multifaceted art form which continues to give 
birth to and to nurture new stylistic idioms and cultural fusions,

    (5) has had a historic, pervasive, and continuing influence on other 
genres of music both here and abroad,

    (6) has become a true international language adopted by musicians 
around the world as a music best able to express contemporary realities 
from a personal perspective, and

    (7) has provided a creative paradigm broadly influential on other 
contemporary art forms, including dance, literature, theater, film, and the 
visual arts;

Whereas this great American musical art form has not yet been properly 
        recognized nor accorded the institutional status commensurate with its 
        value and importance;
Whereas it is important for the youth of America to recognize and understand 
        jazz as a significant part of their cultural and intellectual heritage;
Whereas there exists no effective national infrastructure to support and 
        preserve jazz;
Whereas documentation and archival support required by such a great art form has 
        yet to be systematically applied to the jazz field;
Whereas it is in the best interest of the national welfare and all of our 
        citizens to preserve and celebrate this unique art form;
Whereas the continuing development of new technologies and avenues of 
        communication offer formidable possibilities as well as challenges to 
        artists and audiences;
Whereas recent research has proven the positive cognitive impact of jazz 
        education and appreciation on childhood development;
Whereas there is an increasing emphasis on public-private partnerships at the 
        cutting edge of support for cultural institutions and the arts; and
Whereas the last decade has seen the passing of all but a few of the artists who 
        made definitive contributions in the development of traditional jazz, 
        swing era jazz, and modern jazz: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that jazz is hereby designated as 
a rare and valuable national American treasure to which we should 
devote our attention, support, and resources to make certain it is 
preserved, understood, and promulgated.
                                 <all>
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