[cid:[email protected]]



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2020

Contact: Brooke Lillard, 202-225-2965



Blue Dogs Call on House, Senate Leadership to Focus on Bipartisan Solutions that are Specific to Pandemic Response



WASHINGTON-Today, the Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter<[link removed]> to House and Senate leadership urging the leadership of both parties to work together and focus on bipartisan solutions that are specific to the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.



The letter was signed by the following members of Blue Dog Coalition leadership: Reps. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Lou Correa (CA-46), and Anthony Brindisi (NY-22). Additionally, the following Blue Dog Coalition members signed the letter: Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), Rep. Charlie Crist (FL-13), Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Kendra Horn (OK-05), Rep. Daniel Lipinski (IL-03), Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-04), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07).



See below for the full text:



Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:



As this unprecedented public health and economic crisis continues to unfold, it is clear that Congress will have to revisit the evolving needs of our frontline workers, our health care system, our states, and our economy.



In a divided government, the only way Congress will be able to take meaningful action is to put politics aside and pursue bipartisan solutions that can pass a Democratic-led House and a Republican-led Senate, and can then go to President Trump's desk for a signature. At this point, both parties are guilty of having put forward partisan legislation that, in the era of divided government, would do nothing to contain the spread of COVID-19 or deliver peace of mind to the American people.



With lives and livelihoods on the line, there is no time to waste for partisan posturing. We urge all of you to work together and focus on bipartisan solutions that are specific to the pandemic response. If the partisan posturing continues in either chamber of Congress, our votes should not be taken for granted.



The COVID-19 pandemic will affect the lives of every single American. In this pivotal moment, Americans are uniquely dependent on their leaders to do the right thing and put the country over party. The American people want to see the leaders of both parties talking to one another rather than at one another through the press. It is incumbent on all of us to meet this moment-our country depends on it.



Sincerely,



###



The Blue Dog Coalition is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives comprised of fiscally-responsible Democrats, who are leading the way to find commonsense solutions. They are pragmatic Democrats, appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people. Visit our website<[link removed]> to learn more, and get the latest news updates by following us on Twitter<[link removed]> or liking us on Facebook<[link removed]>.