(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Don Young (R-AK) in sending a bipartisan letter signed by more than 100 House members urging House leadership to include stabilization funding for America’s libraries in future COVID-19 legislation. Specifically, the letter asks for at least $2 billion in dedicated fiscal stabilization funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the next COVID-19 response bill.

“Libraries connect people through learning and culture across age, income and geography,” said Congressman Levin. “While free access to books is key to why we love and must protect libraries, it is their digital resources that make them especially important during the COVID-19 crisis. Many libraries around the country offer a wealth of online tools — e-books, movies, online tutoring and homework help, applying for jobs, and even telehealth. We must make sure these resources are available during this pandemic by lifting up these institutions that were building out these online resources long before the current crisis, and supporting their efforts right now.”

“Libraries are critical infrastructure for communities across the country, and they too are hurting during the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Congressman Grijalva. “Along with providing everyone with access to books and the Internet, they will be critical centers for helping their communities recover from this crisis. In order to avert large budget cuts, library funding must be included in future stimulus and recovery legislation.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put the importance of our libraries in the spotlight. As schools have shut their doors and moved toward online learning, the resources made available digitally through libraries are more critical than ever,” said Congressman Don Young. “Internet access isn’t always available to families, and libraries serve as a needed lifeline for students who require internet connectivity to learn. Additionally, the scope of what our libraries do has expanded during this pandemic. Libraries across the nation are now serving a larger role, distributing school lunches, medical supplies, and learning devices. Librarians and other staff are being asked to do more, and our libraries are serving as a pillar of safety and stability for communities. They need financial support to meet this critical moment. I am proud to join Congressmen Levin and Grijalva in support of our nation’s libraries, and urge Leadership to support the IMLS in the next COVID-19 response bill.”

Signers of the letter include:

Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02); Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE -At Large); Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01); Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02); Anthony G. Brown (MD-04); Julia Brownley (CA-26); Salud Carbajal (CA-24); André Carson (IN-07); Ed Case (HI-01); Judy Chu (CA-27); David N. Cicilline (RI-01); Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr.  (CA-39); Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01); Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05); Steve Cohen (TN-09); Tom Cole (OK-4); Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11); TJ Cox (CA-21); Sharice L. Davids (KS-03); Danny K. Davis (IL-07); Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04); Diana DeGette (CO-01); Suzan DelBene (WA-01); Debbie Dingell (MI-12); Mike Doyle (PA-18); Eliot L. Engel (NY-16); Veronica Escobar (TX-16); Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01); Bill Foster (IL-11); Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11); Ruben Gallego  (AZ-07); Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04); Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15); Al Green (TX-09); Deb Haaland (NM-01); Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-Delegate); Jared Huffman (CA-02); Shelia Jackson Lee (TX-08); Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30); Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Kathy Castor (FL-14); William R. Keating (MA-09); Joseph P. Kennedy, III (MA-04); Daniel T. Kildee (MI-07); Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08); Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02); Jim Langevin (RI-02); John B. Larson (CT-01); Barbara Lee (CA-13); Alan Lowenthal (CA-47); Ben Ray Luján (NM-03); Stephen Lynch (MA-08); Doris Matsui (CA-06); Lucy McBath (GA-06); Betty McCollum (MN-04); James P. McGovern (MA-02); David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-01); Jerry McNerney (CA-09); Grace Meng (NY-6); Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25); Stephanie Murphy (FL-07); Joe Neguse (CO-02); Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14); Ilhan Omar (MN-05); Chris Pappas (NH-01); Chellie Pingree (ME-01); Mark Pocan (WI-02); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); David Price (NC-04); Jamie Raskin (MD-08); C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MA-02); Bobby L. Rush (Ill-01); Tim Ryan (OH-13); Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP-Delegate); John P. Sarbanes (MD-03); Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Bradley S. Schneider (IL-10); David Scott (GA-13); Terri Sewell (AL-07); Donna E. Shalala (FL-27); Albio Sires (NJ-8); Elissa Slotkin (MI-08); Daren Soto (FL-09); Jackie Speier (CA-14); Haley M. Stevens (MI-11); Mark Takano (CA-41); Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02); Rashida Tlaib (MI-13); Paul D. Tonko (NY-20); David Trone (MD-06); Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07); Peter Welch (VT-At Large); Frederica Wilson (Fl-24); and John Yarmuth (KY-03).

A signed copy of the letter can be found here.

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