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Austin, Texas – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul — author of the Peace Through Music Diplomacy Act — congratulated Dolly Parton on receiving the Peace Through Music Award for the ways in which her music has promoted peace and represented the United States across the globe.

“Music has a powerful and inexplicable ability to transcend cultures and bring people together. That’s why I introduced the Peace Through Music Diplomacy Act, to leverage music — the universal language — as a diplomatic platform to promote peace and preserve democracy worldwide.

“I congratulate Dolly Parton for her invaluable role in enriching communities across the globe through her music. Dolly Parton wears her heart on her sleeve and embodies everything this bill stands for. At a time when the world is on fire, we must use every diplomatic tool to preserve the promise of freedom and democracy, and that includes music.”

Background:

McCaul’s PEACE Through Music Diplomacy Act became law in 2022. It directs the Department of State (DOS) to leverage partnerships with the private sector when designating and implementing music-related exchange programs run by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). It also specifically authorizes music-related exchange programs that advance peace abroad, and it encourages the DOS to integrate a focus on conflict resolution into all relevant exchange programs for young musicians.

Dolly Parton is the second recipient of the award, following Quincy Jones.

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