U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono from Hawaii has announced that she will continue her role as Senate Co-Chair of the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus alongside Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina. Representatives Judy Chu and Laurel Lee will take on the roles of House Co-Chairs.
Senator Hirono stated, “I’m glad to join Rep. Chu, Senator Tillis, and our new co-lead, Rep. Lee, in continuing to lead the Creative Rights Caucus. Creative industries are vital to our economy. In my home state of Hawaii alone, the creative economy supports tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions to our gross state product.”
The bipartisan caucus aims to educate both Members of Congress and the public about preserving and protecting creative rights within the United States. Highlighting the significance of these industries, it was noted that core copyright sectors contributed over $2 trillion to the nation's GDP in 2023 and provided employment for 11.6 million people.
Senator Hirono further emphasized, “But creators also give us so much more. Their works bring us together, capture our history, and allow us to share our culture with the world." She expressed anticipation in collaborating with colleagues "to highlight the contributions of our nation’s creators and to make sure their works are protected now and into the future."
The focus remains on safeguarding intellectual property through strengthened copyright laws for American creators across various fields such as motion pictures, music, software, books, visual arts among others.