IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 698 
Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 17, 2018 
Ms. TITUS (for herself, Mr. SESSIONS, and Mr. POCAN) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing magic as a rare and valuable art form. 
Whereas magic is an art form with the unique power and po-
tential to impact the lives of all people; 
Whereas magic enables people to experience the impossible, 
inspire, and bring wonder and happiness to others; 
Whereas magic has been used to teach self-confidence, build 
self-discipline, improve interpersonal skills, and stimulate 
curiosity and creativity; 
Whereas magic has had a significant impact on other art 
forms; 
Whereas magic, like the great art forms of dance, literature, 
theater, film, and the visual arts, allows people to experi-
ence something that transcends the written word; 
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Whereas many technological advances, such as robotics and 
projection mapping, can be directly traced to the influen-
tial work of magicians; 
Whereas futurist Arthur C. Clarke claimed that any suffi-
ciently advanced technology is indistinguishable from 
magic; 
Whereas one of the greatest artists of all time, Leonardo da 
Vinci, was inspired by magic and cowrote one of the very 
first books on magic in the late 15th century; 
Whereas modern cinema would not exist today without the 
innovative work of the accomplished magician Georges 
Me´lie`s; 
Whereas magic is an outstanding artistic model of individual 
expression and visual storytelling; 
Whereas magic is a unifying force across cultural, religious, 
ethnic, and age differences in our diverse Nation; 
Whereas magic performances support thousands of jobs and 
entertain visitors from around the world; 
Whereas the American magicians Harry Houdini and David 
Copperfield have been the most successful magicians of 
the past two centuries; 
Whereas David Copperfield, introduced to magic as a boy 
growing up in New Jersey, has been named a Living 
Legend by the Library of Congress; 
Whereas David Copperfield, with 21 Emmy Awards, 11 
Guinness World Records, and over $4,000,000,000 in 
ticket sales, has impacted every aspect of the global en-
tertainment industry; 
Whereas programs such as Project Magic, created by David 
Copperfield, use magic as a form of therapy for children 
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and adults with physical, psychological, and social disabil-
ities; 
Whereas magicians in communities across the United States, 
like Mayor Eric Hogue of Wylie, Texas, use magic to 
teach elementary school students about the roles and re-
sponsibilities of local government; 
Whereas magic has not been properly recognized as an Amer-
ican art form, nor has it been accorded the institutional 
status on a national level commensurate with its value 
and importance; 
Whereas intellectual rights and protection of magic methods 
created and developed by individuals should be recognized 
and protected by our courts; 
Whereas documentation and archival support required for 
this great art form have yet to be systematically applied 
to the field of magic; and 
Whereas it is in the best interest of the national welfare to 
preserve and celebrate the unique art form of magic: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes magic as a rare and valuable art 
form; and 
(2) supports efforts to make certain that magic 
is preserved, understood, and promulgated. 
Æ 
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