Van Hollen, Carper, Democratic Colleagues Urge Leadership to Make D.C. Whole, Increase Federal Coronavirus Relief for the District

Statement

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led a letter with over 20 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, urging leadership to make the District of Columbia whole and provide full funding to D.C. in future COVID-19 relief packages. As noted in their letter, while D.C. is typically treated as a state for budgetary purposes, the coronavirus phase 3 package categorized D.C. as a territory under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. This intentional slight blocked D.C. from receiving approximately $700 million in funding, despite the fact that D.C. residents pay federal income taxes and contribute more revenue than 22 states. Additionally, D.C. is facing more coronavirus cases than 19 states.

The Senators write, "The District of Columbia is not simply the site of the federal government. It is home to 700,000 Americans, with a higher population than two states. Its residents pay federal income tax and follow federal laws. In fact, they contribute more tax revenue than 22 states. Currently, 495 residents of the District have been diagnosed with COVID-19, more than 19 states."

They note, "Because the CARES Act did not follow the precedent of treating the District as a state for the purposes of federal funding, the District will be shortchanged more than $700 million."

The Senators underscore, "Regardless of one's views on D.C. Statehood, it is shameful and unprecedented to change the District's treatment in a bill to provide support for emergency response. Controlling the spread of COVID-19 is a shared priority of all the states, and drastically underfunding an urban area that is closely connected to its surrounding states and the northeast corridor is shortsighted and inexcusable."

The Senators close the letter, stressing, "The District of Columbia does not have representation in the Senate, but it does have support. We urge you to work quickly to address this issue with new emergency appropriations to ensure that our nation's capital has the resources it needs to respond to this national emergency."

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