IV
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 musi-
cal synthesis and culture through the African-American
experience, and—
(1) makes evident to the world an outstanding artis-
tic model of individual expression and democratic co-
operation 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,
•HCON 57 IH
(3) is a true music of the people, finding its inspira-
tion 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 idi-
oms and cultural fusions,
(5) has had a historic, pervasive, and continuing in-
fluence on other genres of music both here and abroad,
(6) has become a true international language adopt-
ed by musicians around the world as a music best able
to express contemporary realities from a personal per-
spective, and
(7) has provided a creative paradigm broadly influ-
ential 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;
•HCON 57 IH
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 im-
pact of jazz education and appreciation on childhood de-
velopment;
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 de-
velopment 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 Amer-
ican treasure to which we should devote our attention,
support, and resources to make certain it is preserved, un-
derstood, and promulgated.
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