Here's an urgent legislative alert from

National Conference of Personal Managers (NCOPM),

the nation's oldest trade association for entertainment, music and talent managers.

Last month, NCOPM asked the personal management community to email their U.S. Senators and urge them to adopt legislation to extend the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

Here's the good news: U.S. Senators received almost 1,000 emails. The bad news? The Senate adjourned until September 8 WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACTION TO EXTEND FPUC!

While the U.S. Senate is in recess, the entertainment industry is on the verge of collapse. The entertainment industry was the first to shut down due to the pandemic and will be the last to return.

Actors, agents, entertainers, managers, musicians, variety artists, vocalists and a myriad of below-the-line, back of house and other production personnel cannot return to work simply because there is NO WORK.

Meanwhile, as a result of the Senate's inaction, out-of-work entertainment workers no longer receive $600 FPUC payments, including gig workers, independent contractors and sole proprietors. Not only are they facing financial crisis, but so is the entertainment industry which has collapsed due to pandemic closures.

That's why NCOPM is asking you once again to reach out to your U.S. Senators and demand that the Senate and The White House extend the full $600/week FPUC (which expired July 25) until the pandemic is over. Tiering off of the payments should not start until the national emergency is over and the unemployment rate is close to its usual 3%. None of the proposed compromises are acceptable. And The White House Executive Order is not a feasible solution.

Please personalize our sample email and contact your Senators today. Urge them to extend the $600 FPUC and pass a comprehensive pandemic relief bill focused on the unique needs of the entertainment industry.

This is urgent. This is not politics. This is about the lives of millions of entertainment workers who are suffering.  We need our voices to be loud and clear.

Thank you for your support,

Clinton Ford Billups Jr.
NCOPM National President