Earlier in the week, this newspaper editorialized on the importance of compromise in delivering state and local aid. I couldn’t agree more: Congress must work across party lines to support our communities and ensure they are able to continue providing essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the opinion piece reflected the strong desire within our community for action by Congress on state and local aid, it made assumptions and left out key information. Amid gridlock in Washington over policies to deliver state and local aid, I have been an outspoken leader working both within my own party, and across party lines to help deliver a compromise. I believe this newspaper’s editorial board only told half the story on these efforts, and I would like to take the opportunity now to set the record straight.
This week, I led two separate efforts urging immediate action on a relief package for state and local governments – one, in which I was joined by Republicans, and the other, alongside a bipartisan group of members from across the political spectrum.
First, I led members of my own party in writing to leadership in both the House and Senate to demonstrate that there is Republican desire to deliver relief. Importantly, I believe that this effort clearly dispels the notion that Republicans are not interested in providing aid to state and local governments. Alongside nine GOP colleagues, we wrote to Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer to call for direct assistance to localities to maintain critical public health efforts and prevent the interruption of essential operations and services.