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McCaul "Music for Peace” Amendment Passes Foreign Affairs Committee

May 21, 2015

McCaul "Music for Peace" Amendment Passes Foreign Affairs Committee

AUSTIN, TX –Today, an amendment offered by Congressman Michael McCaul passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously during markup of H.R. 2323, the United States International Communications Reform Act of 2015.

The "Music for Peace" amendment authored by Congressman McCaul authorizes the newly created U.S. International Communications Agency (USICA) to collaborate with private sector for-profit and non-profit entities to highlight programming content, including music, that promotes peace in countries facing high levels of terrorism or other forms of religious, ethnic, or political violence.

"Music can promote peace in the face of terror," said McCaul. "Following a car bombing in Baghdad, a cellist and former conductor of Iraq's national symphony orchestra, came to the wreckage site and played his cello. Iraqis came out to this site of horror and murder to listen to one of the nation's most renowned musicians, rather than hide from other would-be attackers. This moving story demonstrates the importance of highlighting music and other forms of programming content that promotes peace in places like Iraq which are so desperate for it. This bill will go a long way in improving U.S. international broadcasting efforts and strengthening our public diplomacy around the world."

Upon passage of the amendment, Daryl P. Friedman of The Recording Academy/GRAMMY's thanked Congressman McCaul for his efforts.

"The Recording Academy applauds Chairman McCaul's recognition of music as a powerful tool that crosses cultural boundaries, opens international lines of communication, and can promote peace around the globe," said Friedman. "The Chairman's amendment to H.R. 2323 affirms our belief that music is an "international language" that can foster harmony in places of conflict and healing in times of distress. We look forward to working with the Chairman and his colleagues, and to engaging music creators in contributing positively to international diplomacy efforts."

Video of Iraqi Cellist Karim Wasfi playing his cello at the wreckage site can be found here.

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