,,iv  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,h4 ,,res4 #ijj  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of
 ,,representatives  ,march #ab1         
#bjbj,ms4 ,pingree submitted the        
following resolution2 which was referred
 to the ,committee on ,education and    
,labor  ,,resolution  ,recognizing the  
#ejth anniversary of ,,opera ,america4  
,whereas ,,opera ,america was founded in
 #aigj to serve as the national champion
 for opera and supports the interests of
 artists1 administrators1 educators1    
trustees1 and audiences2 ,whereas       
,,opera ,america was launched by #bj    
companies now represented by ,cincinnati
 ,opera1 ,houston ,grand ,opera1        
,kentucky ,opera1 ,lyric ,opera of      
,kansas ,city1 ,minnesota ,opera1       
,mississippi ,opera1 ,new ,orleans      
,opera1 ,opera ,carolina1 ,opera ,omaha1
 ,opera ,philadelphia1 ,opera ,saratoga1
 ,pittsburgh ,opera1 ,san ,diego ,opera1
 ,seattle ,opera1 ,tulsa ,opera1 and    
,washington ,national ,opera2 ,whereas  
,,opera ,america fosters collaboration  

across its membership of over #aej      
professional opera companies1 #cej      
associated ensembles1 businesses and    
educational institutions1 and thousands 
of individuals toward a shared vision   
for the art form2 ,whereas ,,opera      
,america opened the custom-built        
,national ,opera ,center in ,new ,york  
,city in #bjab as its headquarters and  
home to the opera industry1 serving more
 than #hj1jjj individuals every year2   
,whereas ,,opera ,america represents the
 opera field in the ,district of        
,columbia1 advocating on ,federal issues
 before ,congress1 the ,white ,house1   
and ,federal agencies in order to create
 a more supportive environment for opera
 and all the arts2 ,whereas ,,opera     
,america has provided more than         
#ae1jjj1jjj in grants to support the    
creation and production of new operas in
 the ,united ,states and has advanced   
the work of female composers and        
creators of color2 ,whereas ,,opera     
,america has awarded over #e1jjj1jjj in 

support of innovative business and      
performance practices across the opera  
enterprise1 with emphasis on programs   
that help to recruit and retain         
audiences and deepen their engagement   
with the art form2 ,whereas ,,opera     
,america has stimulated the expanded    
civic practice of opera companies of all
 sizes to increase their public value   
outside the walls of opera houses and   
increase diversity and equity on stage1 
backstage1 among administrators and     
trustees1 and in the audience2 ,whereas 
,,opera ,america developed a landmark   
textbook and curriculum series that     
transformed the educational practices of
 opera companies and their school       
partners to increase the creative and   
expressive ability of children of all   
ages2 ,whereas ,,opera ,america has     
recognized the talent of rising opera   
stage directors and scenic designers and
 has provided learning opportunities for
 singers and other artists at all levels
 of career achievement2 ,whereas ,,opera

 ,america is dedicated to improving the 
governance practices of opera companies 
and developing the leadership skills of 
company trustees2 and ,whereas ,,opera  
,america has nurtured the careers of    
thousands of company leaders and staff  
through professional development and    
mentorship programs and a robust cycle  
of annual forums and national           
conferences3 ,now1 therefore1 be it     
,that the ,house of ,representatives--  
7#a7 recognizes the #ejth anniversary of
 ,,opera ,america2  7#b7 congratulates  
,,opera ,america for advancing the art  
form and elevating the visibility of    
opera and opera companies across the    
,united ,states2  7#c7 appreciates      
,,opera ,america's role as a major      
funder for opera in the ,united ,states2
 and  7#d7 expresses admiration for     
,,opera ,america's commitment to        
enriching the lives of millions of      
,americans and providing a source of    
inspiration for individual achievement  
and community well-being4