May 8, 2020

New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus, and the state’s response to the pandemic is costing billions.

We desperately need emergency federal funds to help New York recover from the coronavirus. The Empire State is facing a loss of $10 billion to $15 billion in revenue, solely due to the impact of the pandemic.

These dollars are needed to keep our hospitals open and to protect our essential employees—doctors, nurses, front-line medical staff and first responders, police, firefighters, and teachers—who put their lives on the line every day on the job.

We need all New Yorkers to tell their congressional representatives to secure a federal mitigation bill that will help restore the state, provide emergency funding for SUNY’s teaching hospitals, provide crucial support for state Medicaid costs and protect essential employees caring for COVID-19 patients.

Click HERE to send an e-letter to Congress. Tell them to send emergency funds to help New York.

The next mitigation bill should also:

• Establish a state fiscal stabilization fund for public schools, colleges and universities so states are not forced to cut public education at any level during the expected recession.
• Provide additional financial support to cover costs for personal protective equipment to health care workers fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.
• Include funding for hazard pay for essential workers, including all health care workers engaged in COVID-19 response.
• Provide emergency funding for our state public hospitals and academic medical centers to support them through catastrophic drops in revenue associated with the cancellation of elective surgery and other non-COVID-19 medical procedures

We are New York Strong, but we can’t fight this battle alone. We need federal leadership and support that protects and strengthens our state.