In an effort to help save local jobs around the country, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) on Feb. 9 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would allow the use of leftover federal funds to provide COVID-19 financial relief for entertainment service and support companies.
The Music Under Severe Income Crisis (MUSIC) Act, H.R. 6701, which Rep. Smucker introduced alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), would specifically make companies that support venues and events eligible for grants under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, which provides emergency assistance for eligible venues affected by COVID-19.
“The live event industry faced significant challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rep. Smucker said. “While I was thankful that the SVOG program was able to support many struggling companies, I was disappointed to learn that critical live events production companies were ineligible to access these critical support programs.”
In Rep. Smucker’s home state, according to his office, Lancaster County, Pa., is home to several live events companies that produce entertainment experiences for artists and theaters nationwide and employ hundreds of Pennsylvanians. But they have been impacted by the ongoing pandemic, which paused many live events.
If enacted, H.R. 6701 would authorize billions in leftover funding to help preserve service and support companies while keeping thousands employed, said Rep. Smucker’s office.
“I appreciate my colleague Rep. Troy Carter for working with me to advance this important bipartisan legislation to help support good-paying, middle-class jobs in my district and across the country,” said Rep. Smucker.
Eric Grossman, chief business officer at Lititz, Pa.-based TAIT Towers, supports the bill, which is under consideration in the U.S. House Small Business Committee.
“We are the carpenters, welders, painters, engineers, and fabricators who build the amazing live events that the world has missed during COVID,” Grossman said. “Having been left out of federal relief efforts to date, our workers and their families continue to face uncertainty due to the devastating and ongoing impacts of the pandemic on live events. We are grateful for the partnership of Rep. Smucker and Rep. Carter and hope that Congress will enact this common sense legislation that extends a critical lifeline to our industry.”
H.R. 6701 is the companion bill to the same-named S. 2743, introduced in September 2021 by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).