Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton said he plans to sign a letter urging congressional leaders to pass President Joe Biden’s proposed COVID-19 spending package for state and local governments.
The letter said that local governments have faced financial pressure of executing public health measures and emergency responses on top of essential services. It said nearly a million local government jobs have already been lost during the pandemic.
“The $350 billion in direct relief to state and local governments included in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would allow cities to preserve critical public sector jobs and help drive our economic recovery,” the letter reads. “Providing direct, flexible aid to cities is the most efficient and immediate way to help families and their communities who have been suffering for far too long.”
The letter said cities are central to accelerating the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, and offers support for President Biden’s proposed national vaccine program.
Hamilton will join Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick, Jr., Gary Mayor Jerome Prince, New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan, Fort Wayne Mayor Thomas Henry and more than 400 others from around the country.
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