The National Association of Music Merchants Foundation Honors Representative Suzanne Bonamici with the SupportMusic Champion Award

On Tuesday evening, The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation honored Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) with the organization’s SupportMusic Champion Award. The award was presented in recognition of the Representative’s tireless work, and strong support of music education, including her lead role in the 2015 passage of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This new law puts more focus on a well-rounded education - including music - and gives more decision-making to states and local districts. The Representative is also the founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), a bipartisan organization which seeks to recognize the benefits of both arts and sciences in developing critical thinking skills for success in career and life. 

“As the daughter of a piano teacher, I’m thrilled to receive the SupportMusic Champion Award,” said Representative Suzanne Bonamici. “I grew up in a home full of music, and I understand and appreciate the power of music to teach, entertain, engage, and connect people of all ages and backgrounds. In Congress, I’m working to make sure all students get a well-rounded education that includes music.” 

“With gratitude, we applaud Representative Bonamici’s ongoing service as a policymaker who believes that every student must have access to quality music and arts education programs,” said Mary Luehrsen, Executive Director of The NAMM Foundation. “Through her leadership, the future of music and arts in school is much brighter for children across the nation.”  

The SupportMusic Champion Award was presented at a reception held in concert with NAMM’s Annual Advocacy Fly-In to Support Music Education before a delegation of nearly 100 leaders in the music products industry, professional musicians, and representatives from the Country Music Association (CMA) and VH1 Save the Music Foundation. The annual award honors Members of Congress who have made significant contributions to education and access to music and arts programs for all students, particularly those in low-income school districts. Past recipients include Senators Lamar Alexander; Bob Casey; Jay Rockefeller; Joe Manchin; and Tom Harkin; and Congressmen John Lewis and Jim Clyburn. The SupportMusic Coalition is sponsored by The NAMM Foundation and counts over 50,000 participants from the music and education sectors. 

Since 2012, Representative Bonamici has served the First Congressional District of Oregon, which includes Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, and Columbia counties and part of Multnomah County. In Congress, she is the Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and is dedicated to setting national policies that give students and educators the support and opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. She is also the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional STEAM Caucus, which aims to encourage innovation and creative thinking by integrating arts and design with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. Representative Bonamici also serves as a member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and she is the top Democratic member on its Subcommittee on the Environment.  She also serves as co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus.  

To learn more about Rep. Bonamici, please visit https://bonamici.house.gov. 

High quality photos for immediate use: https://assignments.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/gyipa_public?nav=pr582398761
Please credit Kris Connor/Getty Images for NAMM.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 10,300 members around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org  

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