Van Hollen, Norton, Hoyer, Carper, and Bowser Release Statements Calling for Full Funding for D.C. in Next Coronavirus Bill
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), and District Mayor Muriel Bowser released statements today advocating for full and fair funding for the District in the next coronavirus bill. The CARES Act, passed in March, deprived the District of $755 million in fiscal relief that would have gone toward helping D.C. residents and businesses recover from the dual economic and health crises presented by the coronavirus. The next coronavirus bill must include these funds and treat D.C. the same as the states, as legislation usually does for purposes of federal funding.
“As COVID-19 cases continue to spike, blocking D.C. from accessing its fair share of relief funds will hamper its ability to address the health and economic crises at hand in our region. Since Republicans’ initial efforts to shortchange the District, we have been fighting tooth and nail to secure fair treatment for the District and provide these much-needed COVID-19 resources moving forward. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and ensure D.C. receives fully-funded COVID-19 aid, to support the citizens and businesses that make our Nation’s Capital so great,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“The needs of the District from the coronavirus pandemic are only increasing,” Norton said. “Any next coronavirus stimulus package must include state-level funding for the nation’s capital, as D.C. is usually treated with regards to federal funding.”
“As we continue to negotiate legislation to provide relief to American families and small businesses impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s imperative that the District of Columbia receive equal treatment in any response legislation,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. “More than 700,000 Americans live in our nation’s capital and they deserve the same treatment and access to resources as their fellow citizens in Maryland and Virginia. I’ll continue to urge my colleagues to not shortchange or discriminate against residents of DC.”
“The District of Columbia is home to more than 700,000 Americans who contribute to our economy and pay taxes just like families, workers, and business owners in every other state,” said Senator Carper. “These Americans are hurting just as much from this pandemic and yet, our federal government has refused to grant the District the relief it deserves. We must do what’s fair and what’s right to support all Americans in our next COVID relief package and that includes ensuring residents of the nation’s capital get the necessary funding and economic support to get through this pandemic.”
“With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise across the nation and the winter months approaching, the District of Columbia is due state-level funding we were shortchanged in CARES Act now more than ever,” said D.C. Mayor Bowser. “Equal relief funding for the District of Columbia will ensure our region has the necessary resources to support our health care workers, invest in our testing and vaccination infrastructure, and safeguard the health of federal workers and visitors to the Nation’s Capital. In every other aspect of the emergency response we are a state, so we thank our congressional partners for fighting for equal treatment for DC and ensuring we receive state-level funding in any future COVID-19 legislation.”