Senate Leader Atkins Joins Governor Newsom, Speaker Rendon and Assembly Minority Leader Waldron in Urging Additional Federal Funding for States
SACRAMENTO – With the impact of COVID-19 deepening and the May Revision of the state budget on the horizon, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) joined Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) and Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron (R-Escondido) in sending a letter to U.S. Congressional leadership, asking them to authorize $1 trillion in direct and flexible relief funding to states and local governments.
The letter states that record amounts of lost wages and business failures, spiraling unemployment, and soaring, unplanned COVID-19 related costs have thrust states and local governments to economic chasms that are likely to exceed that of the Great Recession. The additional aid would preserve core government services, such as public health, public safety, and public education, and would help get Californians back to work.
“The federal government took swift, essential action to aid workers and small businesses, and to shore up our health care systems. Now, we are asking that Congress act similarly so that we can continue to provide core government services to Californians,” said Atkins. “The economic fallout of this crisis is severe, from the toll it has taken on individuals and families to the damage it has done to our local and state budgets. This federal assistance will help prevent further harm to our people and our communities, and protect the resources and services that are critical to our daily lives.”
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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins