Good afternoon —

I’m reaching out to thank you personally for continuing to support our campaign. I know times are tough and everyone is struggling due to the challenges presented by COIVD-19. Despite the current challenges, I’m confident we will overcome them, and emerge stronger on the other side. We’re all in this together.

As our community continues social distancing, I’m doing everything in my power to alleviate the medical and economic pain of this pandemic. While we passed a far from perfect relief bill and we must provide more funding for New York in future stimulus bills. But Democrats were able to make the CARES Act significantly better than what Mitch McConnell wanted.

The CARES Act now includes:

• Cash payments: $1,200 payments for Americans who make under $75,000 (and reduced payments to those that make more that gradually phase-out), an additional $500 per child;
• Expansion of unemployment benefits: increased by $600 a week and new eligibility for small business owners and contract or freelance workers;
• Support for small businesses: including more than $349 billion in direct relief;
• Relief for student loan borrowers;
• Support for state governments: $150 billion to financially secure state governments;
• Support for those on the frontline: $100 billion to hospitals.

These are just a few of the key provisions of the bill, and I’m not done.

For as many benefits that are in the CARES Act, there are flaws. Our healthcare system needs an influx of life-saving medical supplies, testing for every sick American, and we need to follow the lead of similarly powerful nations by providing far more economic relief for individuals.

This is what me and my colleagues in the House will be working on over the coming weeks and months. I will not let partisan politics get in the way of the needed relief and work that is essential for our recovery.

In the meantime, let’s remember to be thoughtful neighbors and citizens. We are a strong community, and, together, we will get through this.

Thank you for your continued support.

In solidarity,

Jerry