Dear friend,

In the midst of this unprecedented crisis, I’ve found it helpful to turn to the wisdom of past leaders who faced times of great peril for guidance.

I’m reminded that, during the Cuban missile crisis, President John F. Kennedy led the nation with strength and clarity through a potentially calamitous and world-altering challenge. And his words and wisdom from those thirteen days have stood the test of time.

We cannot see what course this virus will take, not precisely. To quote President Kennedy, This is a difficult and dangerous effort on which we have set out… Many months of sacrifice and self-discipline lie ahead — months in which both our will and our patience will be tested... But the greatest danger of all would be to do nothing.

Many are sacrificing in some way as we confront this crisis. None more than the health care workers who are on the front lines treating patients. But most of us have had our lives affected by the coronavirus in a significant way. Perhaps because we’re staying home. Or because someone we know was sickened or died. Or because we lost a job or closed a business. Or because we fear for ourselves and our loved ones.

At a moment like this, our nation would often turn its eyes to the president for leadership, inspiration, and hope. But the widespread damage caused by this virus has shown us in new and tragic ways what we have long known: that this president cannot rise to meet a challenge that requires him to think beyond himself.

He will never change. He just can’t.

This means that it’s up to the rest of us to do something. It’s up to the rest of us to lead. Our healthcare workers have set a remarkable example for the nation, making enormous sacrifices to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. Countless others on the front lines are doing the same. Many governors and local leaders acted quickly to contain the virus, and should be commended for their foresight. And Congress has taken the lead in addressing both the challenges to Americans’ health and well-being, and the economic damage that has resulted.

Congress has now passed three relief bills to help those workers on the front lines, American families just trying to get by, and small businesses struggling to pay their workers and stay afloat. We’ve done so on a broad, bipartisan basis, displaying exactly the type of unity Americans have been hoping to see in this time of strife.

That’s why I voted yes to pass the $2 trillion relief package on Friday.

This bill wasn’t perfect, but Democrats made this bill better by staying at the negotiating table, focusing on our values, and demanding that Congress put workers and small businesses first, not corporations or their executives.

Here's what the bill did:

• Direct relief to families: It gave American middle class families immediate relief with a one-time check. It added $600 a week to unemployment insurance for four months, and made this relief available to contractors, freelancers and those employed in the gig economy (this was something I fought hard to include).
• Help for healthcare workers: It provided billions for hospitals and health systems to purchase ventilators, hospital beds, personal protective equipment like masks, and more. The doctors, nurses, first responders, and hospitals are on the front lines of this war. More staff and equipment will be necessary.
• Relief for small businesses: Millions of small businesses – the bedrock of our economy and communities – are struggling to stay afloat and pay their employees. This bill provides hundreds of billions in interest-free loans, grants and other immediate assistance, because we need them to be able to open their doors again after this crisis abates.
• Assistance to states: States like New York and California have been at the forefront of fighting this disease, but it won’t stop there. That’s why we provided billions to states to both manage the virus’ current impact to their health systems, and prepare for the worst yet to come.

As of now, more than three million Americans have filed for unemployment nationwide, one million in my home state of California alone. Those numbers will only grow. Millions more are worried about their jobs, their rent and mortgages, their student debt, and just putting food on the table.

That’s why Congress’ work is not finished. Not by a long shot.

In the coming days, weeks and months, you’ll have a role to play too. You can demonstrate leadership in your corner of the world by supporting local small businesses who need your help, by donating (only if you can) to nonprofits doing good work to provide food, housing and economic assistance, and by raising your voice to demand Congress complete its unfinished work. You can make sure you, and your family, stay healthy, safe and sane – no easy task. You can follow the recommendations of public health experts and your state and local governments to social distance, and make sure your friends and family do the same. We can beat this virus, but we can only do it together.

It's not going to be easy, but I know that we will get through this. We will.

We will be tested, perhaps literally, and through our strength, our values and our determination as a nation, we will prevail. America will rise to meet this challenge, just as we have so many times before. I know we will.

Until we meet again, stay safe and healthy, and all my best,

Adam