HR 25 — A Concurrent Resolution establishing the Pennsylvania State Song Commission to study the history of the State song of the Commonwealth, solicit submissions for a new State song and recommend changes to the State song.

PRINTER'S NO.    280

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 25
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, GIRAL, HADDOCK, SANCHEZ, GUENST, DIAMOND,
        HILL-EVANS, KHAN, NEILSON, FLEMING, VENKAT, PASHINSKI,
        WAXMAN, SOLOMON, CERRATO AND GREEN, JANUARY 27, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 27, 2025


                            A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1   Establishing the Pennsylvania State Song Commission to study the
 2      history of the State song of the Commonwealth, solicit
 3      submissions for a new State song and recommend changes to the
 4      State song.
 5         WHEREAS, During the 1987-1988 legislative session, the chair
 6   of the House State Government Committee led a committee tasked
 7   with recommending a State song for the Commonwealth; and
 8         WHEREAS, The committee was composed of representatives from
 9   the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the Pennsylvania
10   Council on the Arts, professional musicians and members of the
11   public; and
12         WHEREAS, After receiving hundreds of song submissions from
13   the public, the committee selected the song "Pennsylvania" by
14   Eddie Khoury and Ronnie Bonner; and
15         WHEREAS, The act of November 29, 1990 (P.L.598, No.150),
16   referred to as the Official State Song Act, adopted the song
17   "Pennsylvania" as the official State song of the Commonwealth;
18   and
 1      WHEREAS, It is in the interest of this Commonwealth to adopt
 2   a State song that represents the culture, history, spirit and
 3   people of Pennsylvania; therefore be it
 4      RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
 5   establish the Pennsylvania State Song Commission to study the
 6   history of the State song of the Commonwealth, solicit
 7   submissions for a new State song and recommend changes to the
 8   State song, which shall not be binding unless enacted by a
 9   subsequent act of the General Assembly; and be it further
10      RESOLVED, That the commission consist of the following
11   members:
12          (1)     one member appointed by the Majority Leader of the
13      Senate;
14          (2)     one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
15      Senate;
16          (3)     one member appointed by the Majority Leader of the
17      House of Representatives;
18          (4)     one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the
19      House of Representatives;
20          (5)     one representative from the Pennsylvania Music
21      Educators Association;
22          (6)     one representative from the Pennsylvania Council on
23      the Arts;
24          (7)     one representative from the American Federation of
25      Musicians who, at the time of the formation of the
26      commission, resides in this Commonwealth; and
27          (8)     two members of the public appointed by the Governor;
28   and be it further
29      RESOLVED, That the commission hold its first meeting within
30   60 days of the adoption of this resolution and meet no less than

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 1   quarterly thereafter; and be it further
 2      RESOLVED, That at its first meeting, the commission elect one
 3   member to serve as chair of the commission; and be it further
 4      RESOLVED, That the commission has the authority to add
 5   additional members to the commission and create subgroups within
 6   the commission as it sees fit; and be it further
 7      RESOLVED, That the commission seek comments and submissions
 8   from the public on recommendations for a new State song; and be
 9   it further
10      RESOLVED, That the commission choose a song, or songs, to
11   recommend to the General Assembly to become the new State song;
12   and be it further
13      RESOLVED, That the members of the commission serve without
14   compensation but be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable
15   expenses incurred in the performance of their duties; and be it
16   further
17      RESOLVED, That reasonable expenses incurred by the commission
18   be equally divided between the Senate and the House of
19   Representatives; and be it further
20      RESOLVED, That the approval of the President pro tempore of
21   the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives be
22   required to preauthorize all proposed actions of the commission
23   that will entail the expenditure of State funds and approve all
24   expenditures, including expense reimbursement requests of
25   commission members, prior to payment; and be it further
26      RESOLVED, That nothing in this concurrent resolution preclude
27   the commission from consulting or seeking the expertise of any
28   individual, nonprofit entity, Commonwealth agency or office or
29   legislative committee of the General Assembly to aid with the
30   selection of a new State song; and be it further

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1      RESOLVED, That the commission issue a final report with its
2   findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 12
3   months of the adoption of this resolution.




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