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January 29, 2021

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Speaker Majority Leader House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Mitch McConnell Republican Leader Republican Leader United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy and Leader McConnell:

RE: Urgent Action Needed on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan

On behalf of The United States Conference of , we urge you to take immediate action on comprehensive coronavirus relief legislation, including providing direct fiscal assistance to all cities, which is long overdue. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan contains such assistance as part of an aggressive strategy to contain the virus, increase access to life-saving vaccines, and create a foundation for sustainable and inclusive recovery.

American cities and our essential workers have been serving at the frontlines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for nearly a year. We have been charged with executing herculean public health efforts and an unprecedented emergency response. Despite immense fiscal pressure, your local government partners oversaw those efforts, while trying to maintain essential services and increase our internal capacity to provide support for residents and businesses who have been crippled by a tanking economy.

And yet, as the economic engines of our country, local governments will be relied upon to lead the long- term economic recovery our nation so desperately needs, even as, with 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 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 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.

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 2

Your quick action on President 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’s rescue plan as soon as possible in the 117th Congress.

Thank you for your leadership during this time of national crisis, and please feel free to reach out to our CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran at 202-744-9110 / [email protected] or Chief of Staff Ed Somers at 202-744-9223 / [email protected] to discuss this priority request.

Sincerely,

Greg Fischer Francis X. Suarez of Louisville, KY Mayor of Dayton, OH Mayor of , FL President Vice President Second Vice President

Bryan K. Barnett Steve Benjamin Elizabeth B. Kautz Mayor of Rochester Hills, MI Mayor of Columbia, SC Mayor of Burnsville, MN Past President Past President Past President

Tom Cochran CEO and Executive Director

(Additional mayoral signatories are listed on the following pages.)

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 3

Dan Horrigan Jeff Williams Robert Donchez Mayor of Akron, OH Mayor of Arlington, TX Mayor of Bethlehem, PA

Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft Esther E. Manheimer Michael P. Cahill Mayor of Alameda, CA Mayor of Asheville, NC Mayor of Beverly, MA

Kathy M. Sheehan Nancy Backus Lester Friedman Mayor of Albany, NY Mayor of Auburn, WA Mayor of Beverly Hills, CA

Alex Johnson II Hardie Davis, Jr. Richard C. David Mayor of Albany, OR Mayor of Augusta, GA Mayor of Binghamton, NY

Tim Keller Mayor of Albuquerque, NM Mayor of Austin, TX Mayor of Birmingham, AL

William Wagner Richard Clarke Michael J. Venezia Mayor of Alexander, NY Mayor of Baldwinsville, NY Mayor of Bloomfield, NJ

Justin Wilson Brandon M Scott Domingo Vargas Mayor of Alexandria, VA Mayor of , MD Mayor of Blue Island, IL

Sasha Renee Perez Lancer Shull Scott Singer Mayor of Alhambra, CA Mayor of Batesburg-Leesville, Mayor of Boca Raton, FL SC Ray O'Connell Lauren McLean Mayor of Allentown, PA Mayor of Boise, ID Mayor of Baton Rouge, LA Michael Cinquanti Martin J. Walsh Mayor of Amsterdam, NY Becky Ames Mayor of , MA Mayor of Beaumont, TX Sam Weaver Mayor of Anaheim, CA Greg Szymanski Mayor of Boulder, CO President of Beecher, IL Thomas Broderick, Jr. Todd Alcott Mayor of Anderson, IN Ali Saleh Mayor of Bowling Green, KY Mayor of Bell, CA Cynthia Andrus Mayor of Annapolis, MD Sally Russell Mayor of Bozeman, MT Mayor of Bend, OR Roger Chandler James Schoenig Mayor of Arcadia, CA Jesse Arreguin Mayor of Brewster, NY Mayor of Berkeley, CA Nancy Kaboolian Steven Vescio Mayor of Ardsley, NY Phyllis Magazzu Mayor of Briarcliff Manor, NY Mayor of Berlin, NJ

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 4

Joe Ganim Lydia Lavelle Mary Casillas Salas Mayor of Bridgeport, CT Mayor of Carrboro, NC Mayor of Chula Vista, CA

Katrina R. Thompson Lula Davis-Holmes Mayor of Broadview, IL Mayor of Carson, CA Mayor of , OH

Mary C. Marvin , Jr. Cory Moss Mayor of Bronxville, NY Mayor of Cary, NC Mayor of City of Industry, CA

Steven 'Steve' V. Ponto Brad Hart Frank G. Jackson Mayor of Brookfield, WI Mayor of Cedar Rapids, IA Mayor of , OH

John Arthur Ernst, Jr. Benjamin Weinstock Jason Turner Mayor of Brookhaven, GA Mayor of Cedarhurst, NY Mayor of Cloverdale, CA

Trey Mendez Maria Rivera Patrick L. Wojahn Mayor of Brownsville, TX Mayor of Central Falls, RI Mayor of College Park, MD

Byron W. Brown Deborah Frank Feinen Bianca Motley Broom Mayor of Buffalo, NY Mayor of Champaign, IL Mayor of College Park, GA

Emily P. Berendt Janet McFetridge Andrew J. Ginther President of Bull Valley, IL Mayor of Champlain, NY Mayor of Columbus, OH

Miro Weinberger Pam Hemminger Tim McGallian Mayor of Burlington, VT Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC Mayor of Concord, CA

Elizabeth Gibbons John J. Tecklenburg William 'Bill' C. Dusch Mayor of Campbell, CA Mayor of Charleston, SC Mayor of Concord, NC

Bob Palumbo Vi Alexander Lyles Brian Tobin Mayor of Canandaigua, NY Mayor of Charlotte, NC Mayor of Cortland, NY

Thomas M. Bernabei Andy Berke Biff Traber Mayor of Canton, OH Mayor of Chattanooga, TN Mayor of Corvallis, OR

James Brainard Wanda Stringfellow Joseph U. Meyer Mayor of Carmel, IN Mayor of Chester, SC Mayor of Covington, KY

Frank Saverino Lori E. Lightfoot Raymond R. Soliman Mayor of Carol Stream, IL Mayor of , IL Mayor of Crest Hill, IL

John M. Skillman Charles Tokar Jose R. Gonzalez President of Carpentersville, IL Mayor of Chicago Ridge, IL Mayor of Cudahy, CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 5

Alex Fisch Lioneld Jordan Mayor of Culver City, CA Mayor of Durham, NC Mayor of Fayetteville, AR

Jeffrey J. Mutter Marcia A. Leclerc Christina Muryn Mayor of Cumberland, RI Mayor of East Hartford, CT Mayor of Findlay, OH

Eric Johnson Carlos Romero Stephen L. DiNatale Mayor of , TX Mayor of East Palo Alto, CA Mayor of Fitchburg, MA

Joseph A. Marchese Bonnie Parente Paul S. Braun Mayor of Darien, IL Mayor of East Williston, NY Mayor of Flossmoor, IL

Judith 'Judy' Paul Salvatore 'Sal' J. Panto, Jr. Mike Kozlowski Mayor of Davie, FL Mayor of Easton, PA Mayor of Folsom, CA

Gloria Partida James B. Hovland Acquanetta Warren Mayor of Davis, CA Mayor of Edina, MN Mayor of Fontana, CA

Jerry Smith Jessica Ancona Thomas 'Tom' C. Henry Mayor of DeKalb, IL Mayor of El Monte, CA Mayor of Fort Wayne, IN

Heidi K. Herzberg Drew Boyles Betsy Price Mayor of Deltona, FL Mayor of El Segundo, CA Mayor of Fort Worth, TX

Michael B. Hancock J. Christian Bollwage Donald J. Schmit, Jr. Mayor of , CO Mayor of Elizabeth, NJ Mayor of Fox Lake, IL

Frank Cownie Frank Whitfield Yvonne M. Spicer Mayor of Des Moines, IA Mayor of Elyria, OH Mayor of Framingham, MA

Mike Duggan Kirsten Holzheimer Gail Layne Wilkerson Mayor of , MI Mayor of Euclid, OH Mayor of Frankfort, KY

Teresa Kernc Lucy K. Vinis Robert T. Kennedy Mayor of Diamond, IL Mayor of Eugene, OR Mayor of Freeport, NY

Juan Carlos Bermudez Carlo DeMaria, Jr. Lily Mei Mayor of Doral, FL Mayor of Everett, MA Mayor of Fremont, CA

Roy D. Buol Elizabeth Carr-Hurst Mayor of Dubuque, IA Mayor of Fairburn, GA Mayor of Fresno, CA

Emily Larson Paul Coogan Steven R. Jones Mayor of Duluth, MN Mayor of Fall River, MA Mayor of Garden Grove, CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 6

Jerome A. Prince Jeff Martin Richard Milne Mayor of Gary, IN Mayor of Hamilton Township, Mayor of Honeoye Falls, NY NJ Kevin Burns John Buckley Mayor of Geneva, IL Rodney S. Craig Mayor of Hornell, NY Mayor of Hanover Park, IL Mike Palazzolo Nathan Nagle Mayor of Germantown, TN Mayor of Horseheads, NY Mayor of Hartford, CT Mayor of Glendale, AZ James J. Fiorentini Mayor of , TX Mayor of Haverhill, MA Michael Allawos Steve Williams Mayor of Glendora, CA Debra March Mayor of Huntington, WV Mayor of Henderson, NV Jonathan Godes Tom Hinshaw Mayor of Glenwood Springs, Justin Massey President of Indian Head Park, CO Mayor of Hermosa Beach, CA IL

Rosalynn Bliss David Watts Joseph 'Joe' H. Hogsett Mayor of Grand Rapids, MI Mayor of Herriman, UT Mayor of , IN

Bob Kelly Barbara Lashua Jack Tatooles Mayor of Great Falls, MT Mayor of Heuvelton, NY Mayor of Inverness, IL

Eric Genrich Penny Lilburn Bruce Teague Mayor of Green Bay, WI Mayor of Highland, CA Mayor of City, IA

Nancy Vaughan Nancy Rodkin Rotering Farrah N. Khan Mayor of Greensboro, NC Mayor of Highland Park, IL Mayor of Irvine, CA

John D. Ferris Joseph P. Tursi Mary Lou Pauly President of Greenwood, IL Mayor of Hillburn, NY Mayor of Issaquah, WA

Travis Stovall Joseph M. Lee Svante L. Myrick Mayor of Gresham, OR Mayor of Hilton, NY Mayor of Ithaca, NY

Kristina Kovarik William 'Bill' D. McLeod Edwin P. Hettermann Mayor of Gurnee, IL Mayor of Hoffman Estates, IL President of Johnsburg, IL

Joy Cooper Alex B. Morse Greg Deemie Mayor of Hallandale Beach, FL Mayor of Holyoke, MA Mayor of Johnson City, NY

Curt Balzano Leng Kevin M. Casey Frank J. Janakovic Mayor of Hamden, CT Mayor of Hometown, IL Mayor of Johnstown, PA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 7

Quinton Lucas Bill Baird Kathy Catazaro-Perry Mayor of City, MO Mayor of Lee's Summit, MO Mayor of Massillon, OH

Don Patterson David J. Berger Dennis K Leahy Mayor of Kettering, OH Mayor of Lima, OH Mayor of Maybrook, NY

Jose L. Segarra Ricardo Lara Mayor of Killeen, TX Mayor of Lincoln, NE Mayor of Maywood, CA

Steven T. Noble Alyssa Silhi Mayor of Kingston, NY Mayor of Lincoln, CA Mayor of Mesa, AZ

Dontario 'Don' Hardy Frank D. Scott, Jr. Neil Perry Mayor of Kinston, NC Mayor of Little Rock, AR Mayor of Methuen, MA

Indya Kincannon Jenelle Osborne Rodney Harris Mayor of Knoxville, TN Mayor of Lompoc, CA Mayor of Miami Gardens, FL

Russ Ruzanski Robert Garcia Gary L'Heureux President of Lake in the Hills, Mayor of Long Beach, CA President of Midlothian, IL IL Jack W. Bradley Rich Tran H 'Bill' William Mutz Mayor of Lorain, OH Mayor of Milpitas, CA Mayor of Lakeland, FL Thomas 'Tom' Barrett Todd Rogers Mayor of , CA Mayor of , WI Mayor of Lakewood, CA Adam A. Paul Mayor of Lubbock, TX Mayor of , MN Mayor of Lakewood, CO Thomas M. McGee Brad Wiersum R Rex Parris Mayor of Lynn, MA Mayor of Minnetonka, MN Mayor of Lancaster, CA Satya Rhodes-Conway Wayne M. Messam Mayor of Madison, WI Mayor of Miramar, FL Mayor of Lansing, MI Joyce Craig Matthew Shorraw Kenneth D. Miyagishima Mayor of Manchester, NH Mayor of Monessen, PA Mayor of Las Cruces, NM Scott Schertzer Sean M. Spiller Carolyn G. Goodman Mayor of Marion, OH Mayor of Montclair, NJ Mayor of , NV Danny Pearl Craig A. Moe Mayor of Massapequa Park, NY Mayor of Montgomery, AL Mayor of Laurel, MD

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 8

Anne Watson Ras J. Baraka Anan Abu-Taleb Mayor of Montpelier, VT Mayor of Newark, NJ Mayor of Oak Park, IL

Miles Atkins McKinley L. Price, DDS Mayor of Mooresville, NC Mayor of Newport News, VA Mayor of Oakland, CA

Frank Provo Robert Restaino Jane F. Bolin Mayor of Mount Morris, NY Mayor of Niagara Falls, NY Mayor of Oakland Park, FL

Arlene A. Juracek Kenneth Cooper Alexander Sue Higgins Mayor of Mount Prospect, IL Mayor of Norfolk, VA Mayor of Oakley, CA

Shawyn Patterson-Howard Breea Clark Esther C. Sanchez Mayor of Mount Vernon, NY Mayor of Norman, OK Mayor of Oceanside, CA

Ellen Kamei Francis 'Mac' Womack III Mayor of Mountain View, CA Mayor of North Brunswick, NJ Mayor of City, OK

Steve Gawron Leon Rockingham, Jr. Edward Novick Mayor of Muskegon, MI Mayor of North Chicago, IL Mayor of Old Westbury, NY

Brian Schenk Ana M. Ziade Cheryl L. Selby Mayor of Naples, NY Mayor of North Lauderdale, FL Mayor of Olympia, WA

Alejandra Sotelo-Solis Lawrence La Ronde John Deschamps Mayor of National City, CA Mayor of North Plainfield, NJ Mayor of Oneida Castle, NY

Jeff M. Gahan Sandra E. Frum Gary Herzig Mayor of New Albany, IN President of Northbrook, IL Mayor of Oneonta, NY

Jon Mitchell Jennifer Perez Mayor of New Bedford, MA Mayor of Norwalk, CA Mayor of Orlando, FL

LaToya Cantrell Shawn Sastri Christy Holstege Mayor of , LA Mayor of Norwich, NY Mayor of Palm Springs, CA

Noam Bramson Don Hammond Steven D. Hofbauer Mayor of New Rochelle, NY Mayor of Nyack, NY Mayor of Palmdale, CA

Bill de Blasio Gopal Lalmalani Robert S. Straz Mayor of , NY Mayor of Oak Brook, IL Mayor of Palos Heights, IL

Alan L. Nagy Sandra Bury Gerald R. Bennett Mayor of Newark, CA Mayor of Oak Lawn, IL Mayor of Palos Hills, IL

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 9

Peggy Lemons Thurman 'Bill' Bartie Richard Reinbold Mayor of Paramount, CA Mayor of Port Arthur, TX President of Richton Park, IL

Timothy J. DeGeeter Gregory J. Oravec Patricia Lock Dawson Mayor of Parma, OH Mayor of Port St. Lucie, FL Mayor of Riverside, CA

Victor Gordo Patricia M. Randall Mayor of Pasadena, CA Mayor of Portage, MI Mayor of Rochester, MN

Chance Mullen Lovely A. Warren Mayor of Pelham, NY Mayor of Portland, OR Mayor of Rochester, NY

Frank C. Ortis Kate Snyder Thomas P. McNamara Mayor of Pembroke Pines, FL Mayor of Portland, ME Mayor of Rockford, IL

Michael M. Vargas Frank Podbielniak Bridget Donnell Newton Mayor of Perris, CA Mayor of Posen, IL Mayor of Rockville, MD

Teresa Barrett Jorge O. Elorza Jacqueline M. Izzo Mayor of Petaluma, CA Mayor of Providence, RI Mayor of Rome, NY

Ambrosio 'Amos' Hernandez Glenn A. Johnson John D. Noak Mayor of Pharr, TX Mayor of Pullman, WA Mayor of Romeoville, IL

Jim Kenney Mary-Ann Baldwin Sandra Armenta Mayor of , PA Mayor of Raleigh, NC Mayor of Rosemead, CA

Kate Gallego Garrett Gatewood Mayor of Phoenix, AZ Mayor of Rancho Cordova, CA Mayor of Sacramento, CA

Brian C. Wahler Keith D. Pierson Kimberley Driscoll Mayor of Piscataway, NJ Mayor of Ranson, WV Mayor of Salem, MA

William Peduto Angela Birney Karen K. Alexander Mayor of , PA Mayor of Redmond, WA Mayor of Salisbury, NC

Adrian O. Mapp Hillary Schieve Erin J. Mendenhall Mayor of Plainfield, NJ Mayor of Reno, NV Mayor of , UT

Harry LaRosiliere Thomas K. Butt Mayor of Plano, TX Mayor of Richmond, CA Mayor of , TX

Rex Hardin Mayor of Pompano Beach, FL Mayor of Richmond, VA Mayor of , CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 10

Sylvia Ballin Nick Caiafa Lyda Krewson Mayor of San Fernando, CA President of Schiller Park, IL Mayor of St. Louis, MO

London N. Breed Tom Gifford Melvin Carter Mayor of , CA Mayor of Scotia, NY Mayor of St. Paul, MN

Denise Menchaca David D. Ortega Rick Kriseman Mayor of San Gabriel, CA Mayor of Scottsdale, AZ Mayor of St. Petersburg, FL

Sam Liccardo Paige G. Cognetti David Martin , CA Mayor of Scranton, PA Mayor of Stamford, CT

John Taylor Ian N. Oglesby Michael C. Taylor Mayor of San Juan Capistrano, Mayor of Seaside, CA Mayor of Sterling Heights, MI CA Jenny A. Durkan William H. Joyce Pauline Russo Cutter Mayor of , WA Mayor of Stillwater, OK Mayor of San Leandro, CA Jason Ashmore Laura Hoydick Heidi Harmon Mayor of Sesser, IL Mayor of Stratford, CT Mayor of San Luis Obispo, CA Michael Vandersteen Joe R. Zimmerman Kate Colin Mayor of Sheboygan, WI Mayor of Sugar Land, TX Mayor of San Rafael, CA Jeffrey Z. Slavin Lori Wilson Donna Meyers Mayor of Somerset, MD Mayor of Suisun City, CA Mayor of Santa Cruz, CA William 'Bill' Edwards David P. Merchant Mayor of South Fulton, GA Mayor of Sumter, SC Mayor of Santa Fe, NM Maria Davila Larry Klein Sue Himmelrich Mayor of South Gate, CA Mayor of Sunnyvale, CA Mayor of Santa Monica, CA Mark Eisenberg Michael J. Ryan Hagen Brody President of Spring Grove, IL Mayor of Sunrise, FL Mayor of Sarasota, FL James O. Langfelder Ben Walsh Van R. Johnson II Mayor of Springfield, IL Mayor of Syracuse, NY Mayor of Savannah, GA Bill Krebs Victoria Woodards Tom Dailly Mayor of Springville, NY Mayor of Tacoma, WA Mayor of Schaumburg, IL Charles Straney Gary R. McCarthy Mayor of St. Johnsville, NY Mayor of Tampa, FL Mayor of Schenectady, NY

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 29, 2021 Page 11

Robert Kolosh Ashley C. Curry Keith A. James President of Thornton, IL Mayor of Vestavia Hills, AL Mayor of West Palm Beach, FL

Jason B. Snider Judy Ritter Martha Guerrero Mayor of Tigard, OR Mayor of Vista, CA Mayor of West Sacramento, CA

Wade Kapszukiewicz Glenn Ryback William R. Wild Mayor of Toledo, OH Mayor of Wadsworth, IL Mayor of Westland, MI

Michelle De La Isla Kevin Wilk Glenn F. Elliott, Jr. Mayor of Topeka, KS Mayor of Walnut Creek, CA Mayor of Wheeling, WV

Patrick J. Furey Bradley D. Sellers Thomas M. Roach Mayor of Torrance, CA Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Mayor of White Plains, NY OH Nancy Young Michael S. Purzycki Mayor of Tracy, CA Mayor of Wilmington, DE Mayor of Washington, DC Greg Luisi Chris Rintz Mayor of Tuckahoe, NY Quentin M. Hart Mayor of Winnetka, IL Mayor of Waterloo, IA James Mayor of Tucson, AZ Charles Patricelli Mayor of Winston-Salem, NC Mayor of Watervliet, NY Allan Ekberg Tom Stallard Mayor of Tukwila, WA Lincoln F. Knight Mayor of Woodland, CA Mayor of Wauconda, IL Carol Dutra-Vernaci Peggy Huang Mayor of Union City, CA Letty Lopez-Viado Mayor of Yorba Linda, CA Mayor of West Covina, CA Vince R. Williams John F. Dunbar Mayor of Union City, GA Shari Cantor Mayor of Yountville, CA Mayor of West Hartford, CT Diane W. Marlin Douglas J. Nicholls Mayor of Urbana, IL Lindsey P. Horvath Mayor of Yuma, AZ Mayor of West , CA

Cc: Members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate