(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined the entire Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, and David Trone, in writing to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, urging the Department to immediately provide the funding passed within the CARES Act to state and local governments. In their letter, the Members stress the urgent need for the distribution of these funds and ask the Secretary to ensure flexibility in their use.

The Members write, “We write to urge you to provide funding from the $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund included in the CARES Act for state and local governments as quickly, and with as much flexibility, as possible. We have spoken to state and local leaders throughout Maryland and it is clear that this $150 billion is essential to help meet critical needs and relieve growing budget gaps. And as Maryland’s cases of COVID-19 are projected to increase, state and local governments need this funding to be as flexible as possible to respond to changing conditions.”

They go on to underscore, based on feedback from state and local partners, that Treasury guidance on the funds should allow for flexible use, provide a fair share of funding to smaller localities, and be made available as soon as possible.

The full text of the letter is available here.

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