Suozzi, King, Curran, Bellone Join Local Officials to Call on Senate to Pass Federal COVID-19 Assistance for States, Counties, Localities, and Schools

Press Release

Suozzi was also joined by Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Town of Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, Town of Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim, Northport Mayor Damon McMullen, Leadership of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, and several other elected officials on Long Island At press conference, bipartisan group of elected officials urged Senator Mitch McConnell to pass Coronavirus relief legislation as municipalities and schools across Nassau and Suffolk continue to face budgetary shortfalls

Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) was joined by a bipartisan group of elected officials, including Congressman Peter King (R-Seaford), Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, and several local officials to call on Senator Mitch McConnell, to pass bipartisan legislation which will provide federal aid to states, counties, localities, and schools as they continue to deal with budgetary shortfalls created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The press conference took place exactly two months after the House-passage of the Heroes Act. This critical and much-needed legislation included three of Suozzi's most important priorities which will bring billions of dollars in aid to New York's families and local governments:

A special fund of $49 billion distributed to States based on "rate of infection." Suozzi led the entire NY and NJ delegations in asking congressional leadership for the creation of this fund. This fund will be especially helpful to local school districts.
The elimination of the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Yesterday, Congressman Suozzi joined Senator Schumer at a press conference on Long Island where Schumer pledged to fight for the full repeal of the cap during Senate negotiations of the federal stimulus package. Suozzi led the House in including the repeal of the SALT cap in the Heroes Act.
$87.5 billion for municipalities with more than 50,000 residents and $37.5 billion for municipalities with under 50,000 residents. This will help every municipality from the currently devastated counties to the smallest villages.

"It has been two months since the House passed legislation, which would bring billions in local aid to our state, counties, towns, cities, villages, and school districts. As demonstrated by the bipartisan group of elected officials here today, every local municipality needs Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to negotiate a deal and pass the Heroes Act. The longer they wait, the more Long Islanders and New Yorkers suffer." -- Congressman Suozzi.

"The Coronavirus has decimated state and local governments particularly here on Long Island. To avoid fiscal devastation, it is essential that Congress provide COVID funding to state and local governments to cover all expenses incurred and revenues lost." -- Congressman King.

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Today's bipartisan press conference shows that there is mounting pressure on Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to negotiate a deal and pass legislation which will being relief to thousands of local communities across the United States of America.

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