Public Law 108-72
108th Congress, 1st Session
SEC.6. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH.
(a) FINDINGS. - Congress finds the following:
(1) On December 4, 1987, Congress approved House Concurrent Resolution 57, designating jazz as "a rare and valuable national American treasure".
(2) Jazz has inspired some of the Nation's leading creative artists and ranks as one of the greatest cultural exports of the United States.
(3) Jazz is an original American art form which has inspired dancers, choreographers, poets, novelists, filmmakers, classical composers, and musicians in many other kinds of music.
(4) Jazz has become an international language that bridges cultural differences and brings people of all races, ages, and backgrounds together.
(5) The jazz heritage of the United States should be appreciated as broadly as possible and should be part of the educational curriculum for children in the United States.
(6) The Smithsonian Institution has played a vital role in the preservation of American culture, including art and music.
(7) The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has established April as Jazz Appreciation Month to pay tribute to jazz as both a historic and living American art form.
(8) The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History has received great contributions toward this effort from other governmental agencies and cultural organizations.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS. - It is the sense of Congress that -
(1) The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History should be commended for establishing a Jazz Appreciation Month; and
(2) musicians, schools, colleges, libraries, concert halls, museums, radio and television stations, and other organization should develop programs to explore, perpetuate, and honor jazz as a national and world treasure.
House Concurrent Resolution 57
100th Congress of the United States of AmericaWritten by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. of Detroit, MichiganPassed September 23, 1987
Jazz: A National American Treasure
On December 4, 1987, the United States Senate approved House Concurrent Resolution 57 designating Jazz a national American treasure. This resolution was authored by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan) and sponsored in the Senate by Alan Cranston (D-California).
The House of Representatives passed the resolution on September 23, 1987, the birthday of saxophonist John Coltrane.
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 - 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, is a unifying force, bridging cultural, religious, ethnic and age differences in our diverse society, is a true music of the people, finding its inspiration in the cultures and most personal experiences of the divers peoples that constitute our Nation, has evolved into a multifaceted art form which continues to birth and nurture new stylistic idioms and culture fusions, has had an historic, pervasive and continuing influence on other genres of music both here and abroad, and 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;
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, in as much as 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; and
Whereas, it is in the best interest of the national welfare and all of our citizens to preserve and celebrate this unique art form:
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.
Passed by the House of Representatives September 23, 1987
Passed by the Senate December 4, 1987
