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Home , Alan Webber, Allen Joines, Andy Schor, Darrell Steinberg, Eric Garcetti, Harold Weinbrecht

January 19, 2021

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Mitch McConnell Speaker Majority Leader House of Representatives Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Republican Leader Democratic Leader United States House of Representatives United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

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

RE: Urgent Action Needed on President-Elect 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-elect 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 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.

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 2

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.

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 Nan Whaley 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 19, 2021 Page 3

Dan Horrigan Richard Clarke Martin J. Walsh Mayor of Akron, OH Mayor of Baldwinsville, NY Mayor of , MA

Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft Brandon M Scott Sam Weaver Mayor of Alameda, CA Mayor of , MD Mayor of Boulder, CO

Kathy M. Sheehan Lancer Shull Todd Alcott Mayor of Albany, NY Mayor of Batesburg-Leesville, Mayor of Bowling Green, KY SC James Schoenig Mayor of Albuquerque, NM Becky Ames Mayor of Brewster, NY Mayor of Beaumont, TX William Wagner Steven Vescio Mayor of Alexander, NY Greg Szymanski Mayor of Briarcliff Manor, NY President of Beecher, IL Justin Wilson Katrina R. Thompson Mayor of Alexandria, VA Ali Saleh Mayor of Broadview, IL Mayor of Bell, CA Michael Cinquanti Mary C. Marvin Mayor of Amsterdam, NY Jesse Arreguin Mayor of Bronxville, NY Mayor of Berkeley, CA Steven 'Steve' V. Ponto Mayor of Anaheim, CA Robert Donchez Mayor of Brookfield, WI Mayor of Bethlehem, PA Thomas Broderick, Jr. John Arthur Ernst, Jr. Mayor of Anderson, IN Michael P. Cahill Mayor of Brookhaven, GA Mayor of Beverly, MA Roger Chandler Trey Mendez Mayor of Arcadia, CA Lester Friedman Mayor of Brownsville, TX Mayor of Beverly Hills, CA Nancy Kaboolian Byron W. Brown Mayor of Ardsley, NY Richard C. David Mayor of Buffalo, NY Mayor of Binghamton, NY Jeff Williams Emily P. Berendt Mayor of Arlington, TX Michael J. Venezia President of Bull Valley, IL Mayor of Bloomfield, NJ Esther E. Manheimer Elizabeth Gibbons Mayor of Asheville, NC Domingo Vargas Mayor of Campbell, CA Mayor of Blue Island, IL Hardie Davis, Jr. Bob Palumbo Mayor of Augusta, GA Scott Singer Mayor of Canandaigua, NY Mayor of Boca Raton, FL Thomas M. Bernabei Mayor of Austin, TX Lauren McLean Mayor of Canton, OH Mayor of Boise, ID

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 4

James Brainard Charles Tokar Joseph A. Marchese Mayor of Carmel, IN Mayor of Ridge, IL Mayor of Darien, IL

Frank Saverino, Sr. Mary Casillas Salas Jerry Smith Mayor of Carol Stream, IL Mayor of Chula Vista, CA Mayor of DeKalb, IL

John M. Skillman John Cranley Heidi K. Herzberg President of Carpentersville, IL Mayor of Cincinnati, OH Mayor of Deltona, FL

Lydia Lavelle Cory Moss Michael B. Hancock Mayor of Carrboro, NC Mayor of City of Industry, CA Mayor of , CO

Lula Davis-Holmes Jason Turner Mayor of Carson, CA Mayor of Cloverdale, CA Mayor of Des Moines, IA

Harold Weinbrecht, Jr. Patrick L. Wojahn Mayor of Cary, NC Mayor of College Park, MD Mayor of , MI

Brad Hart Andrew J. Ginther Teresa Kernc Mayor of Cedar Rapids, IA Mayor of Columbus, OH Mayor of Diamond, IL

Benjamin Weinstock Tim McGallian Juan Carlos Bermudez Mayor of Cedarhurst, NY Mayor of Concord, CA Mayor of Doral, FL

Maria Rivera Biff Traber Roy D. Buol Mayor of Central Falls, RI Mayor of Corvallis, OR Mayor of Dubuque, IA

Deborah Frank Feinen Joseph U. Meyer Emily Larson Mayor of Champaign, IL Mayor of Covington, KY Mayor of Duluth, MN

Janet McFetridge Raymond R. Soliman Mayor of Champlain, NY Mayor of Crest Hill, IL Mayor of Durham, NC

Pam Hemminger Jose R. Gonzalez Marcia A. Leclerc Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC Mayor of Cudahy, CA Mayor of East Hartford, CT

Andy Berke Alex Fisch Carlos Romero Mayor of Chattanooga, TN Mayor of Culver City, CA Mayor of East Palo Alto, CA

Wanda Stringfellow Jeffrey J. Mutter Salvatore J. Panto, Jr. Mayor of Chester, SC Mayor of Cumberland, RI Mayor of Easton, PA

Lori E. Lightfoot Eric Johnson James B. Hovland Mayor of Chicago, IL Mayor of , TX Mayor of Edina, MN

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 5

Drew Boyles Kevin R. Burns Joseph P. Tursi Mayor of El Segundo, CA Mayor of Geneva, IL Mayor of Hillburn, NY

J. Christian Bollwage Mike Palazzolo Joseph M. Lee Mayor of Elizabeth, NJ Mayor of Germantown, TN Mayor of Hilton, NY

Lucy K. Vinis Michael Allawos William 'Bill' D. McLeod Mayor of Eugene, OR Mayor of Glendora, CA Mayor of Hoffman Estates, IL

Carlo DeMaria, Jr. Kevin M. Casey Mayor of Everett, MA Mayor of Grand Rapids, MI Mayor of Hometown, IL

Christina Muryn Eric Genrich Alex B. Morse Mayor of Findlay, OH Mayor of Green Bay, WI Mayor of Holyoke, MA

Paul S. Braun Richard Milne Mayor of Flossmoor, IL Mayor of Greensboro, NC Mayor of Honeoye Falls, NY

Acquanetta Warren John D. Ferris John Buckley Mayor of Fontana, CA President of Greenwood, IL Mayor of Hornell, NY

Thomas 'Tom' C. Henry Kristina Kovarik Nathan Nagle Mayor of Fort Wayne, IN Mayor of Gurnee, IL Mayor of Horseheads, NY

Betsy Price Joy Cooper Mayor of Fort Worth, TX Mayor of Hallandale Beach, FL Mayor of , TX

Donald J. Schmit, Jr. Curt Balzano Leng Tom Hinshaw Mayor of Fox Lake, IL Mayor of Hamden, CT President of Indian Head Park, IL Yvonne M. Spicer Rodney S. Craig Mayor of Framingham, MA Mayor of Hanover Park, IL Joseph 'Joe' H. Hogsett Mayor of , IN Layne Wilkerson Mayor of Frankfort, KY Mayor of Hartford, CT Jack Tatooles Mayor of Inverness, IL Lily Mei Debra March Mayor of Fremont, CA Mayor of Henderson, NV Farrah N. Khan Mayor of City of Irvine Barbara Lashua Mayor of Fresno, CA Mayor of Heuvelton, NY Mary Lou Pauly Mayor of Issaquah, WA Jerome A. Prince Nancy Rodkin Rotering Mayor of Gary, IN Mayor of Highland Park, IL Edwin P. Hettermann President of Johnsburg, IL

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 6

Greg Deemie Thomas M. McGee Arlene A. Juracek Mayor of Johnson City, NY Mayor of Lynn, MA Mayor of Mount Prospect, IL

Quinton Lucas Satya Rhodes-Conway Shawyn Patterson-Howard Mayor of City, MO Mayor of Madison, WI Mayor of Mount Vernon, NY

Steven T. Noble Danny Pearl Steve Gawron Mayor of Kingston, NY Mayor of Massapequa Park, NY Mayor of Muskegon, MI

Russ Ruzanski Kathy Catazaro-Perry Brian Schenk President of Lake in the Hills, Mayor of Massillon, OH Mayor of Naples, NY IL Dennis K Leahy Jon Mitchell Todd Rogers Mayor of Maybrook, NY Mayor of New Bedford, MA Mayor of Lakewood, CA LaToya Cantrell Adam A. Paul Mayor of Mesa, AZ Mayor of , LA Mayor of Lakewood, CO Rodney Harris R Rex Parris Mayor of Miami Gardens, FL Mayor of , NY Mayor of Lancaster, CA Gary L’Heureux Alan L. Nagy President of Midlothian, IL Mayor of Newark, CA Mayor of Lansing, MI Thomas 'Tom' Barrett McKinley L. Price DDS Kenneth D. Miyagishima Mayor of , WI Mayor of Newport News, VA Mayor of Las Cruces, NM Brad Wiersum Robert Restaino Bill Baird Mayor of Minnetonka, MN Mayor of Niagara Falls, NY Mayor of Lee's Summit, MO Matthew Shorraw Kenneth Cooper Alexander David J. Berger Mayor of Monessen, PA Mayor of Norfolk, VA Mayor of Lima, OH Sean M. Spiller Sandra E. Frum Jenelle Osborne Mayor of Montclair, NJ President of Northbrook, IL Mayor of Lompoc, CA Breea Clark Robert Garcia Mayor of Montgomery, AL Mayor of Norman, OK Mayor of Long Beach, CA Miles Atkins Leon Rockingham, Jr. Jack W. Bradley Mayor of Mooresville, NC Mayor of North Chicago, IL Mayor of Lorain, OH Frank Provo Ana M. Ziade Mayor of Mount Morris, NY Mayor of North Lauderdale, FL Mayor of , CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 7

Shawn Sastri Mayor of Norwich, NY Mayor of Phoenix, AZ Mayor of Richmond, VA

Don Hammond Brian C. Wahler Richard Reinbold Mayor of Nyack, NY Mayor of Piscataway, NJ President of Richton Park, IL

Gopal Lalmalani William Peduto Kim Norton Mayor of Oak Brook, IL Mayor of , PA Mayor of Rochester, MN

Sandra Bury Harry LaRosiliere Thomas P. McNamara Mayor of Oak Lawn, IL Mayor of Plano, TX Mayor of Rockford, IL

Libby Schaaf Rex Hardin John D. Noak Mayor of Oakland, CA Mayor of Pompano Beach, FL Mayor of Romeoville, IL

David Holt Thurman 'Bill' Bartie Sandra Armenta Mayor of , OK Mayor of Port Arthur, TX Mayor of Rosemead, CA

Edward Novick Mayor of Old Westbury, NY Mayor of Portland, OR Mayor of Sacramento, CA

John Deschamps Frank Podbielniak Karen Alexander Mayor of Oneida Castle, NY Mayor of Posen, IL Mayor of Salisbury, NC

Gary Herzig Jorge O. Elorza Erin J. Mendenhall Mayor of Oneonta, NY Mayor of Providence, RI Mayor of , UT

Robert S. Straz Glenn A. Johnson Mayor of Palos Heights, IL Mayor of Pullman, WA Mayor of , TX

Gerald R. Bennett Mary-Ann Baldwin Mayor of Palos Hills, IL Mayor of Raleigh, NC Mayor of , CA

Victor Gordo Garrett Gatewood Denise Menchaca Mayor of Pasadena, CA Mayor of Rancho Cordova, CA Mayor of San Gabriel, CA

Chance Mullen Angela Birney Mayor of Pelham, NY Mayor of Redmond, WA Mayor of San Jose, CA

Frank C. Ortis Hillary Schieve John Taylor Mayor of Pembroke Pines, FL Mayor of Reno, NV Mayor of San Juan Capistrano, CA Thomas K. Butt Mayor of , PA Mayor of Richmond, CA Pauline Russo Cutter Mayor of San Leandro, CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 8

Kate Colin Mark Eisenberg Jason B. Snider Mayor of San Rafael, CA President of Spring Grove, IL Mayor of Tigard, OR

Donna Meyers James O. Langfelder Wade Kapszukiewicz Mayor of Santa Cruz, CA Mayor of Springfield, IL Mayor of Toledo, OH

Alan Webber Bill Krebs Patrick J. Furey Mayor of Santa Fe, NM Mayor of Springville, NY Mayor of Torrance, CA

Sue Himmelrich Charles Straney Greg Luisi Mayor of Santa Monica, CA Mayor of St. Johnsville, NY Mayor of Tuckahoe, NY

Hagen Brody Lyda Krewson Mayor of Sarasota, FL Mayor of St. Louis, MO Mayor of Tucson, AZ

Van R. Johnson II Melvin Carter Carol Dutra-Vernaci Mayor of Savannah, GA Mayor of St. Paul, MN Mayor of Union City, CA

Gary R. McCarthy Rick Kriseman Vince R. Williams Mayor of Schenectady, NY Mayor of St. Petersburg, FL Mayor of Union City, GA

Nick Caiafa David Martin Diane W. Marlin President of Schiller Park, IL Mayor of Stamford, CT Mayor of Urbana, IL

Tom Gifford Michael C. Taylor Glenn Ryback Mayor of Scotia, NY Mayor of Sterling Heights, MI Mayor of Wadsworth, IL

David D. Ortega Joe R. Zimmerman Bradley D. Sellers Mayor of Scottsdale, AZ Mayor of Sugar Land, TX Mayor of Warrensville Heights, OH Paige G. Cognetti David P. Merchant Mayor of Scranton, PA Mayor of Sumter, SC Mayor of Washington, DC Jenny A. Durkan Ben Walsh Mayor of , WA Mayor of Syracuse, NY Quentin M. Hart Mayor of Waterloo, IA Jason Ashmore Victoria Woodards Mayor of Sesser, IL Mayor of Tacoma, WA Charles Patricelli Mayor of Watervliet, NY Michael Vandersteen Jane Castor Mayor of Sheboygan, WI Mayor of Tampa, FL Lincoln F. Knight Mayor of Wauconda, IL Jeffrey Z. Slavin Robert Kolosh Mayor of Somerset, MD President of Thornton, IL Letty Lopez-Viado Mayor of West Covina, CA

Mayors Letter on American Rescue Plan January 19, 2021 Page 9

Shari Cantor William R. Wild Tom Stallard Mayor of West Hartford, CT Mayor of Westland, MI Mayor of Woodland, CA

Lindsey P. Horvath Chris Rintz John F. Dunbar Mayor of West , CA Mayor of Winnetka, IL Mayor of Yountville, CA

Martha Guerrero James Mayor of West Sacramento, CA Mayor of Winston-Salem, NC

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