Friends,
MUSIC Act BIP Amendment (8.3.21) (2)
For all of you left behind by SVOG, below are the next steps for funding.
It is The MUSIC Act ( Music Under Sever Income Crisis) ( Senate Amendment 2412) that we discussed before.
Thursday 3 weeks ago 17 Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in the Senate and voted to limit debate over the $1.2 trillion dollar Infrastructure Bill to 30 Hours.
This “killed” the filibuster.
Filibuster is the act of talking nonstop so that the bill or act before Congress is never up for a vote.
Once the 67 Senators approved only 30 hours of debate, the stage was set.
There were a large number of amendments put “on the table” before the Senate.
This is a literal as well as a figurative term.
Under the rules of procedure, all bills or amendments up for consideration must be placed on the table at the front of the Senate, where they lay.
Later, a bill or amendment must be picked up and read on the floor of the Senate. Once it is read into the record, it is then brought up for debate.
After debate, a motion to vote on it is made and if seconded, it is voted on.
It will then be voted up or down.
It takes 60 yeas to pass a bill or amendment out of the Senate.
On those following days, Senators from both sides pontificated for 30 hours, at which time all debate ended.
No amendments were ever taken up.
They remained on the table.
That is where The Music Act is now.
The next potential move will be when the Senate reconvenes September 13th.
Realistically, it would be September 15th before anything is done on this.
Because of the Afghan situation, that has been and will continue to take all of the oxygen out of the room.
Several Democratic House Members have stated publicly they will not vote to approve the $1.2 Trillion dollar Infrastructure bill unless it comes to them, and then goes to the President stand alone, without the $3.5 Trillion dollar following bill.
Thus, at this moment, consensus is that neither bill is assured to move in September.
There are those who believe it may take until December to pass either Infrastructure bill.
Thus, IF that happens, there is no vehicle to “carry” the amendment.
If the Senate does work on passing the $3.5 trillion dollar Infrastructure Bill, the Republicans will not vote to limit discussion and all amendments WILL be read into the record.
That is where The MUSIC Act would get read in.
It must be read, debated on, and voted on.
As the Congressional Budget Office has publicly stated they expect SVOG to have over $5 billion dollars remaining in SVOG, after supplemental grants are awarded, there is enough money left in SVOG to fund The MUSIC Act.
The MUSIC Act was CBO scored at $4 billion.
Thus, no new money is needed for The MUSIC Act.
The MUSIC Act does propose reallocating $4 billion from an existing fund to SVOG, but that should not be needed.
Either way, it does not add to the national debt or to the cost of the overall bill.
Thus, there should be no reason for anyone to vote against it.
The rise of the Delta variant is now on the forefront of the minds of Congress, and several Senators and Representatives have called me to let me know they realize this is needed now more than ever to help those in the industry that are not currently helped by SVOG.
Congress realizes there is a large segment of the industry that needs help, and when a number of artists cancelled the rest of 2021, it was a wakeup call to Congress that The Music Act needs to be passed.
Congress would also need to, by a congressional act, reopen SVOG as it sunset, or closed, Friday, August 20th.
Lastly, if the above does not happen, there is work being done to put The MUSIC Act amendment forward as a clean, stand-alone amendment.
We would attempt to pass it by Unanimous Consent, or UC.
In that case, The Music Act would be read aloud on the floor of the Senate. The sponsor would then move to pass it by UC. It takes only 1 vote to kill it.
If no one objects, it passes.
The house could then pass it the next day or so, also under UC. It then goes to the President to be signed into law.
That is the final path.
I am told, as it requires no new money, and there will be over $5 billion remaining in SVOG, there is no known opposition to The Music Act.
Thus, getting it passed should occur, once we get it read into the record.
I am sorry for being so long winded, but that is what I now spend 18 hours a day on.
This is more important than ever now as the Delta variant continues to slow the opening of the industry, and it may shut down parts as well.
Passage of The MUSIC Act will allow all parts of the industry much needed relief.
Lastly, Leader Chuck Schumer is the key to our success.
Leader Schumer got behind Save Our Stages and he was responsible for getting everyone on board to deliver Save Our Stages as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.
Without the leadership and support of Leader Schumer, SVOG would most likely not exist.
We once again need Leader Schumer’s commitment, direction, leadership and assistance.
This is an opportunity for Leader Schumer to finish what he started and provide much needed funding for those currently left behind by SVOG.
The $5 billion plus dollars that will remain in SVOG after supplemental grants will more than fund The MUSIC Act.
Any of you that have access to Leader Schumer, please exercise your connections and urge him to finish the great effort that he started and save those left behind by SVOG.
As the Delta variant continues, we lose more shows, more firms and more people.
Now is the time for Leader Schumer to get The MUSIC Act across the goal line.
The first thing the senate should do when they reconvene in September is pass The MUSIC Act by Unanimous Consent.
Minority Leader McConnell must also join in this effort to save the live entertainment industry.
Leader Schumer must then work with House Leadership and get The MUSIC Act through the House by UC and on the President’s desk to sign.
Thank you for all you do and be safe,
Michael T. Strickland
Bandit Lites, Inc.
Chair and Founder
