U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) has joined 32 Senate colleagues to advocate for state, local, and tribal governments to receive dedicated, flexible funding in the next COVID-19 emergency funding package.

The senators wrote, “On behalf of our state, local, and tribal governments, it is essential that you include robust, dedicated, and flexible funding to all units of state and local government in the next interim emergency coronavirus package to support their ongoing efforts in the fight against this pandemic. Not only are these public servants on the front line of the immediate response effort, they are also major employers navigating unprecedented declines in revenue just as the need for their services hits an all-time high. We can and we must work together to get this essential funding to our local partners as quickly as possible.”

Heinrich recently announced that he will introduce the Coronavirus Community Relief Act. This legislation would provide $250 billion in stabilization funds geared toward localities with populations under 500,000 that are struggling in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Communities across the United States, such as smaller counties, cities, and towns, are dealing with COVID-19-related costs that include deploying emergency operations, public service announcements and telework services. Each of these communities need direct stabilization funds to address the pandemic and recover economically when this public health emergency has passed.

Read the full letter here.