Letter to Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader and Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Amid Special Session of Nevada Legislature, Congressman Horsford Demands Senate Take Vote on Heroes Act to Provide Essential Funding to States and Local Governments
Letter
Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:
The COVID-19 health and economic pandemic has wreaked havoc on so many American lives.
We all have witnessed the thousands of lives that were claimed, the millions of workers that lost
their jobs, and the state and local governments that are being forced to cut essential services
because of this virus. It has been more than three months since the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136) was signed into law, which provided
desperately needed relief to our state and local governments. However, it is imperative that we
continue supporting our state and local governments during this time in our country's history.
The United States has surpassed 3 million coronavirus cases, and almost every state is
experiencing revenue shortfalls as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevada, alone, is
expected to have a $1.2 billion revenue shortfall. That is why I implore you to bring up the
House-passed Heroes Act for a vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible so that we can
continue addressing the needs of our constituents during this crisis.
The Heroes Act would provide nearly $1 trillion for state, local, territorial and tribal
governments on the frontlines who need funds. Democratic and Republican governors, mayors,
county commissioners, and local elected officials have all sent letters to Congress urging that we
provide additional support to them right now. As you know, states and localities pay for teachers,
police, firefighters, EMTs, and health care providers. These are the very individuals we are
serving on the frontlines every day and put their lives at risk for the safety of this country during
the COVID-19 crisis.
My home state of Nevada reached 28 percent unemployment, which was the highest in the nation
during April 2020. What began as the COVID-19 public health crisis in early 2020 has rapidly
become an economic and fiscal crisis for the State of Nevada. The speed and depth of the State's
decline is staggering. During the Great Recession, Nevada lost about 180,000 jobs over nearly
three years. During the COVID-19 crisis, Nevada has lost more than 250,000 jobs in the past
three months.
By May 2020, Nevada's projected shortfall for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 alone
was estimated at $811 million. It is estimated that in FY 2020-21, Nevada will experience a $1.2
billion shortfall. The State is already having to consider cutting $125 million and $100 million
from higher education and K-12 education, respectively. Without federal assistance, Nevada will
be forced to make impossible decisions, including whether to cut funding to education or health
and human service programs so desperately needed during this pandemic, or to lay off or
furlough public employees who have been working hard to support the state during this
challenging time, while trying to protect their health and their families. .
That is why I respectfully and urgently, ask that you to take up the Heroes Act, so that we can
provide the direct and flexible relief that our states and local governments need at this very
moment. This aid would preserve core government services like public health, public safety,
public education and help people get back to work. It would help our states and cities come out
of this crisis stronger and more resilient in the long term.
Thank you for your consideration to this request and I appreciate your diligent and committed
work during this crisis.
Sincerely,
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