(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-22), Andy Levin (MI-09), Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) and Joe Neguse (CO-02) in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signed by 128 House Members requesting that future COVID-19 response packages include stabilization funding specifically for localities with populations under 500,000.

While the CARES Act included a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, the legislation did not allow for localities with populations under 500,000 to receive stabilization funds directly.

The Members wrote: “Like their larger neighbors, though, these smaller counties, cities, and towns have faced enormous costs while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. These costs include deploying timely public service announcements to keep Americans informed, rapidly activating emergency operations, readying employees for telework to keep services running, and more.”

The Members continued: “As you work to craft the next package to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to include direct stabilization funding to localities with populations under 500,000, or to lower the threshold for direct funding through the Coronavirus Relief Fund.”

The text of the letter can be found here.

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