U.S. Representative Ed Royce recently met with Yamaha Corp. of America (YCA) senior management on a number of common-interest topics, including west coast port labor negotiations and the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as No Child Left Behind. Yamaha representatives first met with the 12-term congressman last year as part of NAMM’s annual D.C. Fly-In. Following a tour of the music product company’s campus in Buena Park CA, Rep. Royce sat down with YCA President Hitoshi Fukutome and Senior VPs Tom Sumner, Rick Young and Brian Jemelian to discuss important topics that are affecting all musical instrument manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
Topping the agenda was the west coast port strike, which has led to a massive slowdown of U.S. imports, including many products manufactured by musical instrument companies nationwide. According to Rep. Royce, the two ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach handle 40 percent of U.S. imports and employ thousands of Californians, which prompted him to urge a resolution to west coast port labor negotiations in an effort to stem economic harm both locally and nationally. A tentative agreement has been reached between dockworkers and their employers.
Another topic in the discussion was the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which is the largest federal law governing K-12 education policy. It’s being considered for reauthorization by Congress this year. Rep. Royce reiterated his belief in the “STEM to STEAM” education initiative (which adds Arts to the core curriculum of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and that Congress must maintain the definition of “core academic subjects,” including music and the arts, to assure access to federal resources.
“Yamaha is very grateful to Rep. Royce for taking the time to visit with us at our company’s headquarters here in Orange County,” said Hitoshi Fukutome, President of Yamaha Corp. of America. “We share similar concerns regarding economic trade and education, and we’re glad to know that he is working hard for our district by pushing these important issues forward.”