Dear Colleague on Latest Progress on Coronavirus Response

Dear Democratic Colleague,

Thank you for your participation and leadership during yesterday's productive caucus conference call and throughout the coronavirus crisis. Your ideas and input as to how we meet the needs of American families are critical, and have helped inform conversations with the Administration, labor leaders, the business community, the non-profit community and other important stakeholders. I again invite you to send your suggestions, as we work to deliver solutions that will put Families First while stimulating the economy.

Today, Chairman Peter DeFazio and I started the day with a conference call with Secretary Mnuchin to discuss the accelerating impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the aviation and transportation sectors. We next participated in a conference call with airline CEOs at their request, during which there was agreement on the crucial contribution aviation workers provide to the nation's economy and on the need for bold and immediate action, with a priority of putting workers' paychecks and benefits first.

Also today, I spoke with Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, where I raised the importance of continued engagement by the Fed and urged the Chairman to explore ways to use the Fed's authority to assist state and local governments. I was encouraged by the Chairman's perspective that with interest rates at nearly zero, Congress is enabled to think big fiscally as we craft a robust response.

This afternoon, I had a further conversation with AFL-CIO President Trumka, on meeting the needs of America's workers and their families, including the priority of expanded emergency leave policies and assistance to state and local governments, as well as severely impacted sectors of the economy.

Throughout these conversations, I continue to emphasize the need for a cure to be developed soon. We need to give people hope that we have allocated the resources necessary for the research to achieve this success.

As you know, there is a need for a third coronavirus response package which must build on the progress achieved in our $8.3 billion appropriations supplemental and our Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed last week and soon to be passed by the Senate. Our Chairs are already at work on a proposal.

As the situation develops, please be assured that Members will be kept closely apprised of updates. I look forward to our next scheduled caucus conference call on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM Eastern.

Thank you for your patriotism and leadership during this difficult time.

best regards,