Lowey Statement on Trump Administration’s Inadequate Coronavirus Relief Offer

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) released the following statement on the White House’s latest inadequate coronavirus relief offer:

“Set against the ongoing health crisis and the economic carnage wrought by the coronavirus, the Trump administration’s latest offer is woefully inadequate. It ignores science-based solutions to crush the virus and shortchanges state and local governments that provide most services Americans depend on.

“We can only reopen our economy and set the foundation for a strong recovery if we support state and local governments on the frontline of this crisis. Essential government workers must be paid, schools must be able to safely reopen, and transit systems must be shored up. Yet the Republican offer will ensure state and local workers join unemployment rolls even as the work they do is more important than ever.

“In addition to the nickel and diming of urgent needs, I am deeply troubled that the Trump administration continues to insist Congress give them blank checks. Given this White House’s sordid history of using government funding for political gain, Congress must uphold its responsibility to carefully craft the policies underpinning relief funding. We cannot allow President Trump to repeat the missteps he has made on everything from a national testing strategy to the rollout of the Paycheck Protection Program.

“The coronavirus pandemic is the greatest peacetime challenge our nation has ever faced. We must meet the moment, and that will require Republicans to work in good faith on a meaningful relief package – not the insufficient offers they have presented to date.”

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