U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) recently introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to extend the use of grant funds made to shuttered venue operators around the country that continue to experience delays and challenges associated with the ongoing pandemic.
Specifically, Rep. Davis on Sept. 29 cosponsored the Save our Stages (SOS) Extension Act, H.R. 5429, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) to extend the deadline from the end of 2021 to the spring of 2023 for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which was created in the bipartisan Save Our Stages (SOS) Act.
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on the same day introduced the identical S. 2889 in their chamber.
“Many music venues and theaters have waited a long time for the SBA to distribute grant funds authorized by the Save Our Stages Act, but bureaucratic delays have slowed the process of getting funds out the door,” said Rep. Davis. “With the grant program expiring in less than three months and the pandemic still negatively impacting their industry, it’s important that we extend the program’s deadline so venues can fully utilize the grant funding.”
The Save Our Stages Act, which Rep. Davis also cosponsored, was signed into law as part of the omnibus funding bill on Dec. 27, 2020. Unless the law’s deadline is extended, venues could have to return billions of their grant dollars to the SBA, according to information provided by the congressman’s office.
“I’ll continue to work with colleagues in the House and Senate to get this bill passed and on the president’s desk before the end of the year so we can extend this important program,” Rep. Davis said.
The legislation is supported by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Broadway Across America, the Coalition of Performing Arts Centers, the League of American Orchestras, the League of Historic American Theatres, the National Association of Theater Owners, the National Independent Talent Organization, the National Independent Venue Association, the Performing Arts Alliance, the Performing Arts Managers and Agents Coalition, the Preservation Hall Foundation, The Broadway League, and Theatre Communications Group.