H9198 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 9, 2015 beds or low beds for timber sales. In Now, as a conservative, one thing I comes out of the their minds, what some parts of our country, our saw- believe is that the government has a comes out and is expressed on paper mills have been decimated. As small role—it has a limited constitutional and is then translated many times businesses, we need to help people with role—especially when it comes to the through artists’ singing across the small businesses keep that foothold ultimate of the small businesses: the world, is worth protecting. It is intel- that we have and regain it. entrepreneurs. Those are some of our lectual property. It is as much intellec- Those are just a few of the things— songwriters and composers. The Fed- tual property as is this property of my all not my ideas. Those all came out of eral Government should not have its phone in my hand, and we have got to our hearing with the October 8 sub- thumb on the scale, and that is what understand that. committee that we had on wildfires. we are seeing tonight. So you are going Tonight, I have some friends with I very much appreciate the bipar- to hear about that as we go along. The me. We will have a lot of time to talk tisan participation tonight by my col- government’s heavy hand in this indus- about this. I want to start off up north leagues on this very important issue. I try needs to go. a little bit. My friend from North Da- think we have done some really good We have got another issue here of the kota, KEVIN CRAMER, is here. We have things with the farm bill to help our Songwriter Equity Act. We have got talked about this issue, and I am glad forest products industry. Again, this some folks I want to have talk tonight; he has joined me here tonight. truly is about the health of the forest. but I want to introduce this, and they One of the things that we talked It is about revenue for the country, but are all cosponsors of this act. It is H.R. about, Kevin, as you came on the floor, it is about the prosperity of rural 1283. you said, You know, it is just about America. When I start talking about this to- fairness. I think that is a great way to Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the oppor- night, for those watching, there are put it. It is just about fairness. So I am tunity to have this Special Order. three ways songwriters get paid. I am happy to yield to the gentleman to I yield back the balance of my time. going to make it very simple. There talk about this. f are three ways they get paid: Two of Mr. CRAMER. I thank the gen- which the government has its thumb tleman, my friend from Georgia, and SONGWRITER EQUITY ACT on and—guess what?—one of which others who have carried the ball on The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. they don’t. Does anybody want to take this issue for some time. KELLY of Mississippi). Under the a guess? Raise your hand. Not my col- A special thanks to our friend from Speaker’s announced policy of January leagues, you know this. Will anyone Tennessee, MARSHA BLACKBURN. I serve 6, 2015, the Chair recognizes the gen- raise his hand really quickly? Which on the same committee with her, and I tleman from Georgia (Mr. COLLINS) for way is the fairest way? It is when they have learned a great deal about this 30 minutes. are able to negotiate on their own. and other things from Representative Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- That is the sync license. BLACKBURN. er, it is good to be back on the floor of So, with the Songwriter Equity Act, Mr. Speaker, I was reminded of a the House. I am thrilled tonight to be it removes the antiquated evidentiary quote by the songwriting and song per- surrounded with my friends and col- standard; it adopts a fair rate standard forming phenom Taylor Swift, who leagues, and to be part on championing for reproduction, or mechanical li- said: I think songwriting is the ulti- a call that is close to my heart, and censes. Why? To ensure that song- mate form of being able to make any- should be for every Member of Con- writers, composers, and publishers are thing that happens in your life produc- gress. Because we are dealing with appropriately compensated for the use tive. songs and songwriters and the special of their intellectual property. Certainly, with whatever happens in place that they have in American life, Before I get ready to turn it over to your life, whether it is sad or glorious and really in the world. some of my friends who are here with or joyful or heavy, you can write a The amazing thing is how the songs me tonight and who are part of cospon- song. It could be productive, but that that come from the hearts of many soring this, the issue before us is: We doesn’t mean it is profitable. If some- from Nashville, where I have friends to- all can point back to that time. It is a thing is not profitable, the produc- night, Rob and Lance and Lee Thomas, song on the radio. This is the time of tivity of it will certainly wane over and the rest, they are watching others year, this holiday season. Or it may be time, and we will be robbed of that across the country are songwriters, a long drive in the summer. Or it may very important piece of the music who are very interested in what goes be sitting outside, but there is that value chain: Where the product begins, on here. Because, amazingly enough, song and that special someone. That which is in the heart and mind of the here in Washington, DC, as the tenta- song comes on, and you hear it, and the songwriter. cles spread out, you come to find out performer is performing it wonderfully. One of the things I love so much that, even in songwriting, Washington It may have been the performer, or it about this job—and I am happy to has its grip on it. may have been something else. But a admit it to my friends in the Chamber lot of times, there is someone who is tonight—is all of the things that you 1930 b sitting in a room or is sitting some- are forced to learn that you never I just want to point out for those who where, and what comes out of their thought were important before you may be watching—now, this is a quote. hand and onto a piece of paper has learned about them. It is kind of amaz- This doesn’t come from me. It comes come out of their heart and their mind ing. Here we are, 435 colleagues, rep- from Kevin Kadish. You may know and their mouth. It has affected our resenting, roughly, 700,000 people. In Kevin. If you like to listen to a little hearts and our minds, and it has af- my case, I represent the entire State of bit of music, he happened to have a lit- fected us even to this day. North Dakota. We think about things tle, small hit with Meghan Trainor, You can think about those songs. like agriculture and coal and oil. We ‘‘All About That Base,’’ and Miley That is what makes songwriters spe- think about things like highway bills, Cyrus’ ‘‘Two More Lonely People.’’ He cial. That is what makes this cause but we don’t necessarily think a lot made a comment. He said that no one something that we need to fight for. about songwriting. We think a lot is trying to put Pandora or Spotify out You have heard them on the radio. about markets. We think a lot about of business. We just want a fair market Our radio stations have played these fairness. We think a lot about regula- value for our blood, sweat, and tears. songs. For a State trooper’s kid, who tion. This is something that, for me, is grew up in northeast Georgia, to listen I was a regulator for nearly 10 years very special because, over the next 30 to the radio, that was my escape. Be- before becoming a Member of Congress. minutes, you are going to hear about a tween that and books, I traveled the I regulated monopoly industries, and I million and a half songwriters, pub- world and always longed to see it, and was a rate regulator. When I was a rate lishers, and composers across the Na- those songwriters took me there. This regulator, setting the rates for elec- tion and how the current music licens- is why we are fighting today. It is be- tricity rates or natural gas, I had a lot ing regime is causing them to be paid cause we believe that what these art- of tools at my disposal, not the least of well below market value. ists have is intellectual property. What which was all of the evidence that the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:41 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09DE7.081 H09DEPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 9, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9199 record could be filled with. In some advocacy, except, I suppose, the affec- Mr. Speaker, I represent the great cases, it was piles of evidence and lots tion of his friends, cared enough to tell State of Tennessee, as the gentleman of testimony. Everything was on the this lone Congressman from the little alluded to—the great city of Chat- record. It is how you make good deci- State of North Dakota about this real- tanooga and the ‘‘Chattanooga Choo sions. In the case where regulation was ly important issue. I am grateful he Choo,’’ a great song. required and free markets weren’t as brought to it my attention. Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. There we free as they would be in other products, I am grateful for your leadership on go. you tried to apply as a regulator the it, and I am grateful to be here tonight Mr. FLEISCHMANN. I came to Con- evidence to a circumstance that best to help shed some light on it and, hope- gress, and some very creative people reflected the market. fully, move the ball forward a little bit came to see me. We get a lot of visits Tonight, we are talking about some- further. up here in Congress. Folks from all thing—and I appreciate Representative Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Represent- over the country come to see us. I got COLLINS’ illustration of the govern- ative CRAMER, that is such a great a knock at the door one day, and there ment’s thumb on the scale—where story. were some songwriters. They were very there has been a gross inequity, a gross For those of us with many problems talented men and women. What do they injustice. It is where technology has and dysfunction—you hear that up here do? They write and perform songs. I certainly flourished, where innovation all the time—to actually understand was just so impressed. These are cre- has flourished to the point at which op- that we still believe this is the greatest ative entrepreneurs, and some of the portunity to distribute and to enjoy country in the world and that Wash- stories are outstanding. music is unlike at any other time; but ington, D.C., and this Capitol, still rep- One gentleman came to see me, and the songwriters have been left out of resent a shining beacon that goes he said: One day years ago, a long time the innovation piece of it. They have throughout the world and stands for ago, I wrote a song and went in and saw been really biased against them. freedom, hope, and opportunity, the the great Johnny Cash. He liked my As I have studied this issue as it has story that you just told about B.J. song, and he played my song. It went been brought to my attention, I have Thomas, an artist who has profited off well, and that was his claim to fame. looked at it, and I have thought, This of songwriting, and his taking time to Another gentleman came in, and he just isn’t fair. This just isn’t fair. talk to his Representative, that is mentioned a song. He said: I wrote that Frankly, the ultimate conclusion of what makes this country great. and played it for a fellow by the name this kind of antiquated regulatory pol- That is exactly what we are talking of Frank Sinatra. icy would lead to a very important loss about here, letting things be known Now, I remember those two great because people wouldn’t be able to do that we may not have known and see- performers, but these were the folks this, not unless you think that Georgia ing them in amazing places. who wrote the songs. This songwriter and Tennessee are the only places You talked about your never know- actually got to go and hear that re- there are songwriters. I was surprised ing that your State of North Dakota is corded. Sinatra invited him, and it be- to find out there were several hundred where you might meet a songwriter. As came a classic. of them in my little State of North Da- my friends are down here tonight, I I was surprised to learn, as my col- kota. It is amazing. just want to share one thing that came league from Georgia alluded to, of the One thing that all of us can agree on to my attention right as we were walk- Songwriter Equity Act, but there is is that small business is the heart of ing on the floor. You never know where some fundamental unfairness involved our economy and that there is no songwriting comes from. Tonight, we in the process, and I wanted to talk smaller business than the single genius have a special honor because, just out- about that. that writes music, right? That is the side these doors, protecting us here on Before I came to this great House, I smallest of small businesses. We ought Capitol Hill, is one of our aspiring practiced law for about 24 years in the to get the government, to the degree songwriters—Capitol Hill Police Officer city of Chattanooga. I loved practicing we can, out of the way; but to the de- Kevin Reumont. I hope I pronounced law, but when I was not practicing law, gree it requires regulation—and we un- that right. He is protecting Congress, every once in a while, the judge wanted derstand it does require regulation as and he also writes the soundtrack of to go fishing, and he would let me pre- we are talking about copyright and as our lives. Can you imagine a better side as special judge. I really liked pre- we are talking about broadcasting and way to think about that even in this siding over cases. As a matter of fact, as we are talking about things that are building? I probably presided over several hun- under the legitimate jurisdiction of the Mr. CRAMER. I just have to say, dred cases over my legal career. I still Federal Government’s—we ought to at since you brought it up, there is noth- keep a law license. But, as a judge, least be fair in how we do it, and we ing that makes me much more emo- what did I hear? I heard evidence many ought to be modern in how we carry it tional than a really good song; but the times, and I want to refer to something out. men and women who protect us in this that is very important in this whole In addition to my friends, Represent- Chamber make me as emotional as debate. ative COLLINS, Representative BLACK- anything. I am grateful. It is a great Right now, the way that the rates are BURN, and others who have taught me story. set—and I want everyone who is watch- so much about this important issue, I Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Thank you ing this to understand this—fundamen- also want to thank a new friend who tonight for being a part of it. tally, the evidence cannot be consid- approached me at a concert that I at- It moves along. We mentioned the ered by the judge in setting the rates tended just because I love him so much great State of Tennessee, with Mrs. for these performers. and love his music. I have loved it for BLACKBURN and others who have been a What I mean by that specifically is decades. This is, I think, an important part of this; but my friend just across that these judges are not allowed by lesson of advocacy and an importance the border in Chattanooga, Mr. Federal law to consider sound record- lesson of stick-to-itiveness. I had the FLEISCHMANN, is here tonight, and he ing royalty rates as relevant bench- opportunity to meet B.J. Thomas, who has a lot to share about Tennessee and marks when setting performance roy- was a hero of mine while I was growing Georgia and all across the country. alty rates for songwriters and com- up. Do you know what he did with the We are just glad to have you here to- posers. It is analogous to a judge who time that we had together? He advo- night to be a part of promoting as just is hearing a case and saying: Well, I am cated not on his own behalf but on be- was said, the ultimate entrepreneur, not going to let you decide this, and half of his friends, who provided the the person who is there, writing the that is not a good thing. These men fuel for his success. He did so with a song, the small business. So I am and women come up every year. They heavy heart based on the fact that his happy to yield to the gentleman from play their songs, and they work very friends weren’t treated as fairly and as Tennessee to talk about that. hard, and they want their share of the equitably as he has been as a per- Mr. FLEISCHMANN. I thank my col- American Dream. former. league, Mr. COLLINS from the great Nashville is a great city. It is our It touched me deeply that this man, State of Georgia—our sister State capital city in the great State of Ten- who had nothing, really, to gain by this right to the south of us. nessee, and I love all of our State. I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:41 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09DE7.083 H09DEPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H9200 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 9, 2015 represent the Third District in east HAKEEM, I think—as we talk about about because of the inherent funda- Tennessee: Chattanooga and Oak this, there is a passion that shows this mental unfairness in the current sys- Ridge. Yet, when I travel to Nashville is not a regional issue and it is not a tem by which songwriters are com- and when I see these men and women genre issue. It is a fairness issue. I pensated. coming there, and there are literally think that is something we can come Congressman COLLINS and I have hundreds of thousands of songwriters, around and reach across the aisle and been able to work closely with a vari- what do they want? They want that say let’s look and work at how we best ety of different stakeholders from one special song, or hopefully more, to can do this. throughout the Nation. Certainly, click, for somebody to perform that. Mr. Speaker, I am so glad to have Nashville, Atlanta, and New York have b 1945 Representative JEFFRIES as a part of wonderful songwriting communities. this. He is a wonderful spokesman to be The chairman of ASCAP, Paul Wil- And when they do, they ought to be a part of fairness and what he does for liams, who has been a tremendous ad- rewarded. We ought to be incentivizing his district, especially with the song- vocate, often has said before the Judi- this because these are creative people, writing community in New York, with ciary Committee and in other contexts these are entrepreneurs. Atlanta, with LA, with Nashville, and that songwriters may be the most So it is my privilege to join the dis- heavily regulated small-business peo- tinguished gentleman from Georgia all over. This has been something that ple in America. who has this Songwriter Equity Act has brought us all together. I yield to the gentleman from New Unfortunately, that heavy regula- with, I believe, all of my colleagues York (Mr. JEFFRIES). tion, as is often the case, is not bene- from Tennessee. I want the American Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I thank fiting them. In fact, in many ways, it is people to take a look at this. I urge Congress to take a look at my good friend, the distinguished gen- suffocating the songwriting commu- this. This shouldn’t be an issue about tleman from Georgia, for convening us nity. It is not working to their benefit. Republican or Democrat. This is an here today on this incredibly impor- It is not consistent with the DNA of issue about giving these songwriters a tant issue on the House floor and, of our Constitution as it relates to intel- fair shake. course, for his extraordinary leadership lectual property, which is to enable Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- on behalf of the songwriters in Amer- creators to benefit from the fruits of er, Representative FLEISCHMANN just ica. their labor. made a great point. I don’t hear a song Over the years, I have gotten to know That is why the Songwriter Equity that comes out on a platform—and I some very good country lawyers. I have Act is such an important piece of legis- think that one of the things we forget also gotten to know some very good lation in order to allow those song- here is that this is not a discussion of country preachers. My good friend writers, who are spread out in all 435 how we get music, per se, and how from Georgia is the best of both worlds. congressional districts in every great innovators have decided that—you We appreciate the tremendous skill set State in the Union, to be able to par- know, through wonderful things—Pan- that he has brought to bear here in the ticipate fairly in the music ecosystem dora Spotify, Apple Music, traditional United States Congress. We are mem- that is so central to the genres that we radio, and the Internet—there are so bers, of course, of the class of 2012. It all know and love throughout our land. many platforms, and those are wonder- has been wonderful to work closely Music, of course, is universal in na- ful. What we don’t want to forget is the with you in your capacity as the lead ture. It crosses all boundaries of race very system that has allowed them to sponsor of this very important piece of and religion, socioeconomics, region, begin is something that is taking away legislation. cultural boundaries in this incredibly from the heart of the very songwriter Article I, section 8, clause 8, of the diverse Nation of more than 320 million issue. United States Constitution gives Con- people. That is why it has been so won- One of the reasons that we were talk- gress, both the House and the Senate, derful to participate in this journey as ing about this is that music is the most the power to create a robust intellec- it relates to trying to do the right regulated sector. Seventy-five percent tual property system, in the words of thing for the songwriters in this coun- of a songwriter’s income is regulated, our Founders, in order ‘‘to promote the try. some of which go back, the mechanical Progress of Science and useful Arts, by As has been pointed out by my col- right, to 1909. They are still governed securing for limited Times to Authors league from Georgia and the other par- by player pianos. That is something and Inventors the exclusive Right to ticipants here, there are really two that has got to change, and I think this their respective Writings and Discov- fundamental things that the Song- is where we are at. eries.’’ writer Equity Act attempts to correct. What Representative FLEISCHMANN The Founders of this great country First, it is important to make sure brings is such a wonderful experience understood that it was important to that the rate courts, who often decide in what he has heard, and I appreciate create a robust intellectual property the compensation for songwriters in him being a part of this. This high- system in order to allow creators and certain contexts, have an opportunity lights, again, that specialness. innovators to be able to benefit from to consider all of the evidence so that Whatever song may come out on a the fruits of their labor. they can arrive at an informed decision platform, I don’t hear it come out say- Songwriters, of course, are at the as to what makes the most sense. ing it is Republican, Democrat, Inde- heart of the music ecosystem, a music It is just illogical to believe that a pendent, Libertarian, or whatever. It ecosystem that produces a variety of rate court that is walled off from cer- just comes out as a song that comes different forms of music. tain forms of evidence, such as the from the heart and mind of someone We know that there is country. There compensation received by recording that touches the soul of others, and I is pop. There is rock and roll. There is artists, can arrive at a fair and equi- think that is a wonderful thing to be a blues. There is bluegrass. There is jazz. table decision. part of. There is Motown. There is hip-hop. In fact, what we have seen is that, Sometimes you make friends and you There is R&B, which we tend to be par- over time, because this wall has ex- come together, and the great State of tial to in the Eighth Congressional Dis- isted, the compensation for recording Georgia and the Big Apple come to- trict. artists has increased significantly. The gether. I was just recently there. It is What all of them have in common is compensation for songwriters has re- amazing how you find commonality in that someone had to create this music. mained at an artificially low level. music and how you find commonality At the heart of that creation, at the That is one of the things that we are in songs and songwriters. heart of the ecosystem, of course, is trying to correct. Let all of the evi- I am just very honored to have as my the songwriter. dence be considered by the courts that lead sponsor on the Songwriter Equity Now, if the songwriter were to dis- are determining these rates. Act Representative HAKEEM JEFFRIES appear or to be diminished in number, Lastly, the Songwriter Equity Act is from New York. We share some back- then the whole system of music cre- designed to bring some notion of mar- ground, but we also share a love of ation collapses. In many ways, that is ket fairness to the compensation of music. what the Songwriter Equity Act is all songwriters who create the music that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:17 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00118 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09DE7.084 H09DEPT1 smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE December 9, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9201 we love. Right now, we have got artifi- the first things we did was went to a b 2000 cially imposed regulatory rates on hootenanny, and this is where every- TERROR WATCH LIST ISSUES these songwriters in a manner that is body just brought music. They brought not fair, that is not just, not consistent their instruments, they brought every- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under with a market-based approach that has thing, and they just began to sing. It the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- made the United States so prosperous came from the heart. uary 6, 2015, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. GOHMERT) for so many other folks. In my office, I keep a file full—and I for 30 minutes. That is why songwriters rightfully actually have some framed—of just Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I al- can say that this overregulation is not words put to paper. Songs are simply ways appreciate my friend from Geor- working for us. We would just like to expressions of the heart that are yield- gia’s thoughts and observations. be able to get the fair market value of ed from the mind through the heart Mr. Speaker, it is really intriguing our creations. That is what the Song- that come out of the mouth that touch that our friends across the aisle have writer Equity Act is designed to do. the souls of others. So I am looking forward to working been joining with the President in de- closely with my good friend from Geor- Then there is my dad and my mom. manding that we in Congress give this gia. He has been a tremendous leader in My dad went to school with a young administration, with its abuses and this regard. I am hopeful that we will man who went on to become known as unaccountability of the IRS, using it be able to soon advance this legislation Whispering Bill Anderson. He started as a political weapon to help win an before the Judiciary Committee. his songwriting in my district, the election, that used the ATF to sell It has tremendous bipartisan support Ninth District, living in Commerce, weapons, 2,000 or so, to get them in the from Republicans and Democrats, Pro- Georgia, at the time, at WWJC. The hands of criminals, and then tried to gressives and Conservatives. Let’s ad- radio station is still there. use that violence that came from the vance this legislation out of Judiciary My understanding of the story from weapons they forced into the hands of and onto the House floor and eventu- Bill was he was on top of the building people that shouldn’t have had them as ally get it to a place where it can be and he wrote this song, ‘‘City Lights,’’ a reason to try to take away Second signed into law by the President. which was performed by Ray Price. He Amendment rights of law-abiding Thank you for your extraordinary has transcended the decades because Americans. leadership. one of his last songs was ‘‘Whiskey This administration is one of the Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- Lullaby’’ that was performed by Brad most arbitrary and capricious adminis- er, I thank Mr. JEFFRIES. I think one Paisley and Alison Krauss. trations in history. Executive orders thing you and I both would point out in You see, this is about stories. Neo is have been used for things that, from this is this is not one against another. one of our Georgia folks. Streaming the top to the bottom of this adminis- It is not playing off. It is just being fair companies are making a lot of money tration, they have said they could not for all involved. off of an outdated system in which use executive orders for, including You have artists who enjoy a very they are able to pay songwriters less forms of amnesty. I think, over 20 good living based on songs that were than the fair market value for the times, the President himself said he written by others. In this process and right to use their work. This is Neo. did not have authority to just grant this ecosystem, we are not minding the amnesty, and yet he turned around and platform. We are just saying to be fair It is time for Congress to stand with songwriters, #standwithsongwriters. I did it anyway. in the use of it. This administration, with that kind We want to see every opportunity for know there are many out there watch- of history over the last 7 years, of every songwriter to be a part, but also ing, on Twitter, Facebook. There are a being so arbitrary and in some cases be equally compensated, fairly com- lot of places where we can get this mes- being very intentional in going after pensated, not more, not less, just fairly sage out. This is simply about fairness. enemies, far beyond anything Nixon compensated. As I come to a close tonight, I am re- I think that is the one thing I want minded even today of when I was in might have ever dreamed he might be to make sure that our songwriters and Iraq just a few years ago. There were able to do, the thought of giving this composers out there understand, that songs that I would hear as I was driv- administration the power to just make they are all in this together. They have ing around and I was meeting with a list of all the people that you don’t advocated and continue to advocate, some servicemembers out on the gate want to ever fly or have a gun, just but know that we all come together. post. We would talk about a lot of make a list, we don’t know exactly how We are the beneficiaries of their ge- things: family, love, life, problems. you are making this list. There is no due process in creating the no-fly list. nius. I think that is the thing. I appre- It would always come around and There is no due process in getting one- ciate you so much. something would be on the radio and a self off the no-fly list once the name is Tonight, as we are coming sort of to song would come across. To this day, if on the no-fly list. an end, many people have asked me: a certain song is played—it could be Katie Pavlich with townhall.com, DOUG, how did you get involved in this? ‘‘Chicken Fried’’ by the Zac Brown talking of the President’s speech, said: How did a kid from north Georgia get Band—I can still believe that I am still ‘‘President Obama called on Congress involved with songwriters? in Iraq. I still go back to those times to pass legislation stripping anyone, Well, the amazing thing is Georgia and I see those young men and young including American citizens, on the has almost 50,000 songwriters reg- women who are protecting us and are terrorism no-fly list of the ability to istered with many—BMI is one of the protecting us all over the world. groups that is registered. ASCAP’s purchase a firearm in the United You see, that is what the songwriter States. Sounds pretty reasonable, Paul Williams is a dear friend. does. The songwriter takes the mo- Of course, he has a real connection to right? Nobody wants terrorists to have ment, crystallizes it, forms it, just as Georgia, for all the folks who are easy access to guns, and it certainly they would any product that they watching, Smokey and the Bandit. sounds bad when the argument is made make that comes out of their mind, Paul has connections to so many that those currently on the terror flowing straight from the heart, out of things in songwriting. This is a multi- watch list have the ability to do so. the mouth, onto a pad, through their million-dollar business, and these are But here’s the problem: The terror no- hand, and touches lives around the all small entrepreneurs. fly list is a mangled, bureaucratic mess I wanted to highlight that, for me, it world. of over 700,000 names. Yes, there are came personal. It comes from listening It is time for Congress to look. It is names on the list that are connected to to my mother-in-law and her husband time for Congress to understand that terrorism, but nearly half of those as they sing and they just go back to this is about small business and small names belong to people who have zero the old Shape note singing books of the entrepreneurs. It is time for Congress links’’ to terrorism. churches in northeast Georgia. to stand with songwriters. Further down she said: It goes to when my beautiful bride, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance ‘‘That list, which contained 47,000 Lisa, and I first started dating. One of of my time. names at the end of George W. Bush’s

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