FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nils Robbins
Phone: 202.770.8053
E-mail: nils.robbins@nationalDMO.org
May 13, 2020
585 state and local elected officials call on Congress to invest in public services, call for more federal funding to slow the spread and reduce the economic impacts of COVID-19
NATIONAL – More than 585 state legislators, mayors, council members and other local elected leaders from 34 states and the District of Columbia stood together on Tuesday to demand members of Congress protect the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of all families during the COVID-19 pandemic by allocating more funding to states and municipalities in the next coronavirus relief package.
The coalition of elected officials, represented, in part, by Democratic Municipal Officials (DMO), Democratic Treasurers Association, State Innovation Exchange, and Local Progress released a letter today outlining critically needed support for state and local governments across the country, including at least $500 billion in unrestricted funds for those facing declining revenue and an increased demand for vital services. They wrote that they fear the economic disruption caused by this pandemic will hurt the country for years to come.
“Without significant economic assistance from the federal government, however, many currently middle-class working families are at risk of falling into poverty through no fault of their own,” wrote the elected officials.
“As a result, we are demanding immediate action by the federal government to ensure the health, safety, and financial security of working people across our country regardless of how they look, where they’re from or what they do for a living,” the letter continued.
“As the President of DMO – representing more than 40,000 Democratic mayors and city council members across the nation – I have immeasurable appreciation for the men and women who have continued going to work to keep our cities running. DMO stands by them and calls on Congress to respect their labor, not with easy thank-yous, but with additional financial support, workplace protections, and the resources they need,” added DMO President and Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson.
Elected officials are also urging federal lawmakers to lift restrictions limiting the use of the $150 billion in the CARES Act to coronavirus-related expenditures and more funding for the CARES Act education stabilization fund.
The letter also calls for increases in Medicaid resources, unemployment insurance, food assistance, childcare, democracy protections, paid medical leave, and support for workers. Read the full letter here.
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Democratic Municipal Officials is the largest network of elected officials within the Democratic Party. The organization is an association of the Democratic National Committee, and advocates for America’s 40,000 mayors, city council members, and other elected leaders serving our municipalities.
For more information, please call 202-770-8053 or email Nils.Robbins@nationaldmo.org