Members of Congress will return to Washington on Monday after their Thanksgiving break. Lawmakers will need to pass some spending bills to keep the federal government running. Texas Senator John Cornyn says they also need to take more action to help people who have been suffering because of COVID-19.
"With the unemployment benefits and support for small businesses essentially expiring by the end of the year, I believe the responsible thing for us to do is to try to find some middle ground and pass another COVID-19 relief bill," he said. "A lot of people are without work and without income."
Sen. Cornyn hopes Congress will take action on a bill he co-sponsored called Save Our Stages. "It's a small but important part of this, to help save some of the music and other entertainment venues...ranging from Broadway shows to symphony orchestras to live music in Austin, Texas."
The bill would funnel $10 billion in aid to live performing arts venues that have been shut down for several months to reduce the spread of COVID-19. That closure has affected not only employees of those venues but also the performers who rely on them for their income.
"The ability to produce music in a live setting is the lifeline for musicians these days," said Texas country musician Josh Abbott. "CD sales and album sales are stories of long ago, they don't really occur any more."
With artists unable to tour, their support personnel are also suffering - including backup musicians, sound engineers and roadies.
"Everybody builds lives based on their earnings, and this year the rug has just been swept out from under us," Abbott said.
Abbott says the Save Our Stages Act would be a huge help to musicians and live music venues.
