Allegro

Local 802 announces congressional endorsement

Rep. Jerrold Nadler for Congress

Volume 116, No. 6June, 2016

Congressman Jerrold Nadler

Congressman Jerrold Nadler

The Local 802 Executive Board has endorsed Jerrold Nadler for re-election to U.S. Congress.

Congressman Nadler represents New York’s 10th congressional district, which covers the west side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. He has made artists and musicians a priority throughout his 24 years in Congress. As a longtime advocate for the protection of artists’ rights and the promotion of artistic institutions, Congressman Nadler has led the fight on behalf of music creators with his authorship of the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, his support for the National Endowment for the Arts, and his relentless backing of New York’s institutions of art, music and culture – many of which center in his district.

“For more than two decades, Congressman Nadler has been an exemplary advocate of workers, musicians and New Yorkers in his district and beyond,” said President Tino Gagliardi. “His strong work to protect performers’ rights with the Fair Play Fair Pay Act, his backing of greater funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, and his exceptional support of Local 802 members during the difficult Metropolitan Opera contract negotiations in 2015 all exemplify the type of partner, advocate and leader our musicians need in Washington D.C.”

The 10th congressional district is especially important, given the number of Local 802 members within the district and also due to the union’s ongoing work in Washington, D.C. to support the music industry. Over the last year, Local 802 and industry stakeholders have worked hard with our elected officials to ensure that national legislation supports musicians and reflects the unique needs of our industry. This work includes advocating for the Transportation Security Administration to process instruments through airport security without difficulty and to allow instruments as carry-on baggage, further supporting the National Endowment for the Arts, and protecting performance rights in digital and AM/FM radio, among other campaigns.

The congressional primary in New York is June 28. Voter registration must be received by June 8 by the Board of Elections.