Progressive Music is pleased to announce our endorsement of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s (D-NY-7) Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education (GAAME) Act (H.R. 6137), released this week. Often, students of color and students in low-income neighborhoods do not share the same access to a high-quality music and arts education. If passed, this legislation would provide articulating language to encourage school districts to use their Title I, Part A Funds (school-wide and targeted assistance grants) to improve access to music and arts education for disadvantaged and low-income students, taught by certified music educators. The GAAME Act is co-lead by Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA-8) and has thirty-seven original cosponsors from across the country.
In addition to Progressive Music’s support, the following members of the Music Education Policy Roundtable have endorsed the GAAME Act:
| National Association for Music Education | American Choral Directors Association |
| American Orff-Schulwerk Association | American School Band Directors Association |
| American String Teachers Association | Barbershop Harmony Society |
| Chorus America | College Band Directors National Association |
| Conn-Selmer | Drum Corps International |
| Education Through Music | Gordon Institute for Music Learning |
| Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association | J. W. Pepper & Son |
| Jazz at Lincoln Center | Little Kids Rock |
| Music for All | Music Publishers Association |
| Music Teachers National Association | National Association of Music Merchants |
| National Association of Music Parents | National Federation of State High School Associations |
| National Music Council | Organization of American Kodály Educators |
| Percussive Arts Society | Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia |
| Progressive Music | Quadrant Arts Education Research |
| Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music | Strathmore Hall Foundation |
| VH1 Save the Music Foundation | Winter Guard International |
| WURRLYedu |
We applaud the Congresswoman for her continuing leadership in supporting music and arts education.
A full copy of the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education Act can be found here. Additionally, an associated press release issued by the Office of Congresswoman Velazquez can be found here.