Dear New York City Area Members of Congress,

The undersigned New York City-based organizations acknowledge and deeply appreciate the commensurate efforts Congress has made thus far to address the COVID-19 public health emergency, and we stand alongside you in our commitment to serve New Yorkers during this crisis.

We strongly urge you to swiftly and substantially build on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The extent and duration of public health measures required to control the spread of COVID-19 is uncertain, but the resulting deep and unequal economic downturn is underway here in New York City.

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Fortunately, there are proven policy prescriptions to preempt the economic afflictions millions in New York City alone will suffer. Moreover, to ensure that relief is aligned with the national recession and states’ distinct recessions, relief measures must be tied to economic conditions rather than an arbitrary calendar date by using “triggers” based on job market conditions to determine when assistance would phase up or phase down.

The undersigned New York City-based organizations represent human service providers, faith organizations, and policy experts. We commend the swift action taken in the first set of relief packages. 

We are asking New York City’s congressional delegation to swiftly and substantially build on the (CARES) Act by protecting New York City and State’s fiscal solvency and ability to provide services, providing economic security, assisting nonprofits, safeguarding public health, and laying the groundwork for shared prosperity by supporting the full range of the New York Tax and Budget Response Team's recommendations. See the Response Team's full set of recommendations here.

This letter was prepared by the New York Federal Tax and Budget Response Team. The Response Team works together to protect and strengthen federal human services programs and policies that support low- to middle-income New Yorkers. We are a state-based coalition whose members include FPWA, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York, UJA-Federation of New York, Fiscal Policy Institute, New York Housing Conference, LiveOn NY, Human Services Council of New York, United Neighborhood Houses, Food Bank For New York City, Urban Justice Center, Children’s Aid, and Nonprofit New York. Together, the umbrella organizations represent hundreds of faith-based and human-service organizations and serve together more than 3 million New York City residents each year.

This is an organizational sign-on letter. Individuals can take action here.