Senate Panel to Study Music and Youth

A Senate subcommittee that oversees the relationship between the federal government and the District of Columbia will find time on Nov. 6 to examine the impact of rock and rap music on America’s young people.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), chairman of the subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia, has invited rap music critic C. DeLores Tucker and Hilary Rosen, chairman of the Recording Industry Assn. of America, to testify. Brownback held a similar hearing six months ago to explore the quality of TV programming.

Brownback, a Christian fundamentalist, drew national attention in July after making a seemingly derogatory quip at a Senate hearing investigating campaign abuses. “No raise money, no get bonus?” said the senator, describing the Democratic National Committee’s pay arrangement with Democratic money man John Huang. After Asian activists demanded an apology, Brownback’s office issued a written explanation: “No one should infer anything which was not intended. He meant no offense by his comments. The senator apologizes for any misunderstanding.”