Cunningham Calls on Congressional Leadership to Immediately Resume COVID-19 Relief Negotiations

Press Release

Rep. Joe Cunningham this week joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to call on Congressional leadership to immediately resume negotiations for a relief package to confront the dire public health and economic crises facing Americans as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter sent to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy, Cunningham called attention to the 30 million Americans out of work, millions of small businesses that are still shuttered or restricted in operations, state and local governments’ serious budget shortfalls, and the horrific death toll that has caused more than 170,000 deaths in this country.

“We recognize that negotiating such a significant legislative proposal is difficult, but failing to reach a deal is unacceptable and is a failure of duty to the American people,” Rep. Cunningham wrote. “During times of national emergencies, the American people look to elected officials to set aside their differences and take action through a sense of shared purpose and direction. The time for excuses has passed: Congress must work together and find compromise to jumpstart this process. We urge you to continue negotiations as soon as possible.”

Although the House is scheduled to reconvene this weekend to vote on critical USPS legislation, House and Senate leadership and the White House have indicated no plans to restart negotiations on COVID-19 legislation while members are in Washington.

Ten Democrats and eight Republicans joined Cunningham to send the letter. Read a copy of the letter here.

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