ICYMI: Bipartisan Group of Over 280 Mayors Call on Congress to Pass American Rescue Plan and Deliver Immediate Relief for Struggling Communities

Today, a bipartisan group of 284 mayors — Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — released a letter through the U.S. Conference of Mayors calling on Congress to take immediate action to pass President-elect Biden's American Rescue Plan and deliver badly-needed support to struggling communities so they can keep first responders on the job, reopen schools, and speed up vaccinations and defeat the virus.

President-elect Biden's plan calls for $350 billion in direct assistance to state and local governments, and provides substantial additional funding to reopen the majority of schools safely within 100 days, dramatically ramp up vaccination efforts to administer 100 million doses in 100 days, and expand testing and public health workforces. 

Groups and leaders across the political spectrum have praised the American Rescue Plan — from Senator Bernie Sanders, to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, local public health officials, and organized labor — and an independent analysis by Moody's Analytics found that it would help create 7.5 million jobs in 2021, double economic growth, and return the U.S. to full employment a year faster.

Read the full letter here.

"[W]ith few exceptions, cities have been largely left without direct federal assistance. The lack of adequate support has resulted in budget cuts, service reductions, and job losses. Sadly, nearly one million local government jobs have already been lost during the pandemic. Our essential workers deserve federal relief like any other sector.

"The $350 billion in direct relief to state and local governments included in President-elect Biden's American Rescue Plan would allow cities to preserve critical public sector jobs and help drive our economic recovery. Providing direct, flexible aid to cities is the most efficient and immediate way to help families and their communities who have been suffering for far too long.

"Furthermore, cities must be central to a deliberate strategy to accelerate vaccinations throughout the country. We support President-elect Biden's proposal to mount a national vaccination program and the provision of additional resources to cities to bolster our efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

"Your quick action on President-elect Biden's plan is a crucial step to making meaningful progress in one of the most challenging moments in our country's history. The United States Conference of Mayors is eager to work with Congress and the incoming Administration to meet this challenge. We encourage you to take up the President-elect's rescue plan as soon as possible in the 117th Congress."