Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke today in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about the financial struggles facing Arizona's entertainment industry during the coronavirus pandemic and underscored her support of the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act and RESTART Act--both of which aim to provide necessary relief to the entertainment industry.
"I hear daily from Arizonans and Arizona small businesses in the entertainment industry struggling to stay afloat as our venues are closed or strictly limited due to the pandemic. I am proud to cosponsor of the Save Our Stages legislation and the RESTART Act, both of which can provide necessary assistance to the entertainment industry
As the bipartisan discussions about another COVID package continue, I will continue encouraging my colleagues to provide assistance to Arizona's entertainment industry," said Sinema.
Arizona's small businesses - including local entertainment and music venues - are among the hardest hit and will be among the last employers to fully reopen. Sinema is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act and RESTART Act. The Sinema-backed Save Our Stages Act provides $15 billion to support independent clubs, theaters, concert halls, and movie theaters. The RESTART Act includes a new loan program to support businesses that have taken a substantial revenue hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sinema highlighted the impact both the Save Our Stages and RESTART Acts could have on venues like Arizona-based Harkins Theatres, the Rhythm Room in Phoenix, the Rialto Theatre in Tucson, and the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix.