Unanimous Consent Request

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I thank my good friend from Oregon for his excellent and eloquent words. I want to thank him for being such a leader on this issue and so many others. I thank my colleague from New Hampshire, who will speak after me. I think Senator Menendez is expected here, as well, to say a few words before the unanimous consent request that will be made by my colleague from Oregon.

We are a long way off from beating COVID-19. Our communities need Federal relief as soon as possible. The disease continues to spread in an alarming rate across much of the South and West, and our country is facing probably the greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression.

Yet, for over 2 months, the Republican Senate has chosen to delay, delay, delay. First, Leader McConnell said another COVID relief bill was ``likely'' in June. Now, the earliest it could happen is late July, and, even then, the Republican leader said he wants to ``assess the conditions in the country'' first before writing a bill ``in his office.''

I will make two points. The conditions in the country are terrible. You don't need to wait to assess them. We must act now. Second, if the leader thinks writing a bill in his office will produce results, I ask him to look at COVID 2, 3, and 3.5, where, in each case, he wrote a bill in his office without Democratic input. We insisted that we be included by not going forward, and we got a much better bill. We hope that is what he will do from the outset--work with us in a bipartisan way and work with the House, as well, to get something done.

The time for waiting and the time for partisan posturing is over. We are on the precipice of several deadlines that require immediate action from Congress. There are several cliffs, but perhaps the most dangerous is the cliff for State and local governments, so many of which are finalizing their budget before the new fiscal year on July 1, in 2 days.

State, local, and Tribal governments have already laid off more than 1.6 million workers and are being forced to cut critical services. At least 25 States have lost a minimum of 20,000 jobs. Apropos to the point my colleague from Oregon made, there are 25,000 State and local jobs in Florida. What are we saying to them? There are 29,000 in Kentucky. What are we saying to them? There are 93,000 in Texas. What are we saying to them?

These are not abstract numbers. They are teachers and firefighters and busdrivers and healthcare workers and more. It includes so many public health workers essential to contact tracing so we can lick this disease once and for all. Without Federal support, those job losses will continue, and the loss of vital services will continue as well.

So far, the Senate Republican response to this potential crisis has been a giant shrug of the shoulders. Leader McConnell had once said that he would certainly be in favor of allowing the States to use the bankruptcy route. That is the Republican leader telling States, red and blue alike, why don't you go bankrupt.

That is not acceptable to Senate Democrats. So tonight I am joining Senators Wyden, Menendez, Hassan, Carper, Gillibrand, and Murphy to ask the Senate's consent to pass emergency Federal funding so that State, local, and Tribal governments can keep fighting the pandemic and keep their communities safe.

Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer: We write today to advocate on behalf of states, territories, counties, cities and towns, all of which are experiencing historic budget shortfalls as they continue to respond to the pandemic. In less than two days, the budget years for 45 states and thousands of local governments will begin. Unlike the federal government, these state and local governments must begin their fiscal years on time and with a balanced budget. If the Senate fails to act immediately to support state and local governments, our nation's recovery from the pandemic-induced recession will suffer and millions of Americans will needlessly be harmed.

Previous federal bills responding to COVID-19 provided important support, many through well-established grant programs, yet none allow for the replacement of billions of lost revenue due to COVID-19. More robust and direct stimulus is needed for state and local governments to both rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in education, health care, emergency operations, public safety and more.

As we move closer to the end of the budget year, furloughs and job cuts are on the table for many states and localities. These jobs losses not only affect the provision of government services, but also add to state unemployment. The damage will get far worse without federal assistance, forcing drastic cuts that will further delay and cancel infrastructure projects, as at least 26 states have announced construction delays for transportation projects. The loss of such projects will ripple through states' construction industry, delaying recovery further.

State and local governments also purchase goods and services which add to the nation's output, and in 2019, state and local governments' purchases accounted for 11 percent of GDP. When these activities slow down, there is an effect on the nation's economy. Alarmingly, CBO's June letter on its forecast of Gross Domestic Product for 2020 and 2021 found that ``state and local governments' purchases of goods and services fell by $350 billion, making up 9 percent of the total decline in GDP.

Nearly 15 million Americans are employed by state and local governments. Teachers, first responders and emergency medical service workers are on the front lines of this crisis doing the essential work of the country. Government employment continues to suffer substantial losses with over 1.6 million state and local government jobs lost since March.

Leaders in Washington have expressed support for flexible fiscal aid to states and localities of all sizes. Yet months have gone by and our communities continue to suffer. Americans have a history of standing together in times of crisis and must do so now. Sincerely,

Accelerate Indiana Municipalities; ACT, Inc.; AECOM; Alabama League of Municipalities; Alaska Municipal League; Alkermes; American Association of Port Authorities; American Beverage Association; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; American Gas Association; American Hotel & Lodging Association; American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR); American Planning Association; American Public Human Services Association; American Public Power Association; American Public Works Association (APWA); American Shore & Beach Preservation Association; American Society of Civil Engineers; AmeriHealth.

Caritas; Anthem; Arizona Association of Counties; Arkansas Municipal League; Arthritis Foundation; Association of County Commissioners of Georgia; Association of Arkansas Counties; Association of County Commissions of Alabama; Association of Financial Guaranty Insurers; Association of Indiana Counties; Association of Minnesota Counties; Association of Oregon Counties; Association of Washington Cities; Axxess; BrightSpring; Health Services California; Marine Affairs & Navigation Conference (CMANC); California State Association of Counties; Center for Public Safety Management.

Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association; CGI Communications, Inc.; Coast Builders Coalition; Colorado Municipal League; CompTIA-- Computing Technology Industry Association; Connecticut Conference of Municipalities; County Commissioners Association of Ohio; County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania; County Commissioners Association of West Virginia; County Executives of America; Credit Union National Association (CUNA); Data Center Coalition; Delaware League of Local Governments; Dexcom; Esri, Inc.; Florida Association of Counties; Florida League of Cities; Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association; Georgia Municipal Association.

GIIA; GoRail; Government Finance Officers Association; Great Lakes Dredge & Dock; IBM; Illinois Municipal League; Illinois State Association of Counties; Institute for Building Technology and Safety; International Association of Emergency Managers; International City/County Management Association; International Municipal Lawyers Association, Inc.; Internet Association; Intuit Inc.; Iowa League of Cities; Iowa State Association of Counties; ITC Holdings Inc.; Jersey Shore Partnership; Johnson & Johnson; Kansas Association of Counties; Kentucky Association of Counties.

Land O'Lakes Inc.; Large Public Power Council; League of Arizona Cities and Towns; League of California Cities; League of Kansas Municipalities; League of Minnesota Cities; League of Nebraska Municipalities; League of Oregon Cities; League of Wisconsin Municipalities; Louisiana Municipal Association; Magna; Maine Municipal Association; Maryland Association of Counties; Maryland Municipal League; Massachusetts Coastal Coalition; Massachusetts Municipal Association; Michigan Association of Counties; Michigan Municipal League; Mississippi Association of Supervisors; Mississippi Municipal League.

Motorola Solutions, Inc.; Municipal Association of South Carolina; NACBHDD and NARMH; National Association for County Community and Economic Development; National Association for Home Care & Hospice; National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO); National Association of Bond Lawyers; National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers (NACCTFO); National Association of Counties; National Association of County Engineers; National Association of County Human Services Administrators; National Association of Home Builders; National Association of Regional Councils; National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers; National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO); National Association of State Treasurers; National Association of Towns and Townships; National Community Development Association.

National Conference of State Legislatures; National Governors Association; National Emergency Management Association; National League of Cities; National Marine Manufacturers Association; National Organization of Black County Officials, Inc (NOBCO); National Workforce Association; Nebraska Association of County Officials; Netsmart; Nevada Association of Counties; New Jersey Association of Counties; New Jersey State League of Municipalities; New Mexico Counties; New York State Association of Counties; New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials; NIC; North Carolina League of Municipalities; North Dakota Association of Counties; North Dakota League of Cities; NWEA; Ohio Municipal League.

Oklahoma Municipal League; PACENation; Partnership for Medicaid Home-Based Care; Pennsylvania Municipal League; Police Jury Association of Louisiana; Port of Walla Walla; ResCare Workforce Services; Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Siemens; Sourcewell; South Dakota Municipal League; Southern California Edison; Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA); TechNet; Tennessee County Services Association; Tennessee Municipal League; Texas Association of Counties; Texas Municipal League; The Coca-Cola Company; The Community Outcomes Fund at Maycomb Capital.

The Council of State Governments; The Design-Build Institute of America; The United States Conference of Mayors; three+one; Thrive Skilled Pediatric Care; U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA); U.S. Water Alliance; United Counties Council of Illinois; Utah League of Cities and Towns; Vermont League of Cities and Towns; Virginia Association of Counties; Virginia Municipal League; Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA); Washington State Association of Counties; West Virginia Association of Counties; West Virginia Municipal League; Wisconsin Counties Association; Wisconsin County Highway Association; Wyoming Association of Municipalities; Wyoming County Commissioners Association.

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Mr. SCHUMER. This letter is from the ``Big 7'' national associations. They represent the Governors, Democrat and Republican; the mayors, Democrat and Republican; the State legislatures, Democrat and Republican; the county leaders, Democrat and Republican; and the city managers. They all got together in a bipartisan way, as this Chamber should do, and wrote the Senate a letter pleading--pleading--for Federal support and warning of the dire consequences of the delay.

Let me read a passage from their letter to Leader McConnell and myself, with a copy to all Republican and Democratic Senators. There are many organizations from red States signing this letter. This is what they wrote:

Previous federal bills responding to COVID-19 provided important support . . . yet none allow for the replacement of billions of lost revenue due to the COVID-19. More robust and direct stimulus is needed for state and local governments to both rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in education, healthcare, emergency operations, public safety and more . . . . Months have gone by and our communities continue to suffer. Americans have a history of standing together in a time of crisis and must do so now.

Let me repeat those words for every Member of this Chamber to hear: ``Americans have a history of standing together in a time of crisis and must do so now.''

I urge my colleagues--and, particularly, my Republican colleagues--to listen to those words. These are your States, your cities, your mayors, your counties, and your State governments pleading with you for relief--not in a month, not later this year, but right now.

I hope my Republican friends will listen to their voices--the voices of their constituents and State leaders--and consent tonight to pass Federal support for State, local, and Tribal governments. Blocking it will send a terrible signal to the American people that this Senate-- this Republican-led Senate--is unwilling to act with any urgency to pass the relief that our States desperately need.

I now yield to my colleague from New Hampshire, who has been such a strong leader, particularly pointing out how lost revenues hurt governments--big, small, rural, urban, suburban, you name it

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