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Rep. Williams Joins Venue Owners and Artists at Billy Bob’s Texas to Highlight the Save Our Stages Act

August 8, 2020

FORT WORTH, TX Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today held a press conference at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth highlighting the urgency of passing his bipartisan bill, the Save Our Stages Act, to provide relief for independent live music venues. Speakers included Marty Travis, General Manager of Billy Bob's Texas; Bob Jameson, CEO of Visit Fort Worth; Walter Kinzie, Founder and CEO of Encore Live; and Burleson, TX native and recording artist Casey Donahew.

"During COVID-19, independent live music venues have been hardest hit as they were the first to close and will be among the last to reopen. They are cultural staples here in Central Texas and generate billions of dollars into our economy nationwide, and we must do all we can to preserve them for future generations. I'm proud to introduce the Save Our Stages Act to provide these businesses with a lifeline and I'm grateful to Billy Bob's for allowing us to be here today," said Congressman Williams.

"This is a difficult time for many industries, including independent music and entertainment venues. As a recording artist who has toured all across the country and as an owner of an independent music venue, I have witnessed the severity of COVID-19's impact. I stand with Reps. Williams and Welch and thank them for fighting to protect the legacy of these venues and preserve the deep cultural value each one brings to their own community," said Pat Green.

Background:

Congressman Williams introduced the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act with Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) to provide grants from the Small Business Administration to independent music venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $10 billion grant program is specifically for venues with less than 500 employees that are not publicly traded companies. Eligible recipients include venue owners, producers, managers and promoters, who can receive a grant based on the lesser value of either 45% of gross revenue from 2019 or $12 million. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Senate companion version of the legislation.

Click here for quotes of support for the Save Our Stages Act from artists and Texas-based music venues, please click here.

Click here for Congressman Williams' earlier remarks on the House floor urging passage of the bill.

Click here for Congressman Williams' op-ed in the Austin American-Statesman on the urgency of providing relief to music venues.

Congressman Roger Williams represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas and serves as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services.