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Casey Donahew can't wait to get back on the stage and sing for crowds.
"Music does heal," the country music singer said. "It happens every day."
Donahew on Friday showed up at Billy Bob's Texas Friday to talk about the proposed Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, is trying to pass through Congress.
Texas Congressman Roger Williams is co-sponsoring pandemic relief legislation for music venues.
Senator John Cornyn recently co-sponsored similar legislation in the Senate.
Both the House and Senate bills have bipartisan support.
Some have been creative with how to keep the music going, like the Levitt Pavilion.
Still, that doesn't change the fact that the entire industry could use a big boost.
Norman Lucas believes the Save Our Stages Act would be a lifeline for live music venues.
"It's very important to us," said Lucas of Elevated Minds Music Group, which owns Brass Hall in Marble Falls. "If it passes, we're definitely planning on becoming active in that program because it's going to at least ensure our survival. Otherwise, we wouldn't know if we would survive."
The U.S. House bill was introduced July 29 by Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
Williams was joined by tourism and entertainment industry leaders in Fort Worth at a press conference at Billy Bob's Texas on Friday highlighting the proposed measure. Venue shutdowns have been tough on the business owners themselves and it directly affects artists and crews who would be performing on their stages, North Texas native and country singer Casey Donahew said.
HILLSBORO, TX – Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today toured the Hillsboro Municipal Airport after announcing a $553,500 grant awarded to the airport under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Mayor Andy Smith, EDC Administrator Art Mann and Airport Manager John Graham joined the tour.
The office of Congressman Roger Williams, R-Austin, announced a grant to the Housing Authority of Killeen for just over $20,000 this week.
The grant comes will help pay for housing choice vouchers as part of federal coronavirus aid funding that was passed by Congress.
The grant will provide administrative fees to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), including the Mainstream Vouchers," the news release said.
The Austin American-Statesman
By Congressman Roger Williams
Williams: Music venues are part of our fabric. They need our help.
It is the honor of my lifetime to represent the 25th District of Texas in the United States Congress. While COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives, I want you to know that I continue to fight on your behalf in Washington. We will arise from this pandemic with an increased resolve to deliver more jobs, a stronger economy, better healthcare, and the best military that the world has ever known.
HEALTHCARE
Across our home state, uncertainty looms as businesses and Texan families take cautious steps toward returning to the "norm" prior to COVID-19. While we have been fortunate to support some of our local shops through carry-out orders and curbside pick-up, the live music industry has experienced catastrophic consequences.
HILLSBORO, TX – Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today announced a $553,500 grant for Hillsboro Municipal Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The funding was approved by the Texas Transportation Commission and is intended to be used for electrical improvements including replacing medium intensity runway lights, replacing Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) for Runway 16, installing PAPI for Runway 34, replacing the wind cone, and replacing airfield signage.