Rep. Doggett Welcomes Rep. Estes as New Co-Chair of Congressional Musicians' Caucus

Washington, D.C. -Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), founder and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Musicians' Caucus, announced Representative Ron Estes (R-Kansas) as the new Co-Chair to help elevate the cultural and economic impact of music and the arts on Americans' daily lives.

"Music doesn't take sides-it takes the stage and asks us to listen. From my hometown of Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, to music classrooms and performance venues across the country, crowds become communities," said Rep. Doggett. "My good friend, Ron Estes, gets this rhythm by uplifting the artists, educators, and engineers who shape the industry and inspire future musicians. I'm pleased to have him join our mission as a Co-Chair, and look forward to working together to create a more inclusive landscape that benefits us all."

"Joining my colleague, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), as co-chair of the Congressional Musicians' Caucus is an honor and a great opportunity to recognize how music has impacted the lives and history of Americans," said Rep. Estes. "We will work to feature the incredible role music plays in bringing Americans together, fostering creativity, and enriching our communities. From the heartland of Kansas to every corner of our great nation, music unites us, inspires the next generation, and strengthens our heritage. I look forward to working across the aisle to support the music industry, ensure the arts continue to thrive for all, and enjoy many styles and varieties of music that can be created."

The Congressional Musicians' Caucus leads a bipartisan effort to unite lawmakers, artists, educators, venues, and industry partners in highlighting how music connects people, cultivates civic dialogue, addresses important social challenges, and builds up the American economy.

Previously, the Caucus collaborated with the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, Roll Call, and the Recording Academy on the first-ever Congressional Recordperformance, bringing together members of Congress and professional musicians onstage to recognize the importance of congressional funding for arts education.