Washington, D.C. – Today, 116 bipartisan mayors sent a letter to the Biden administration, urging it to provide COVID-19 vaccines directly to cities and fully utilize the Defense Production Act to sustain the production and stockpiling of virus testing, treatment, and vaccine supplies. The letter comes in response to the ongoing limited availability of vaccines nationwide
Washington, DC—Yesterday, a bipartisan delegation of border mayors, representing the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), met virtually with officials from the U.S Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to discuss critical issues facing mayors on and near the U.S. Mexico border. The meeting was led by San Diego Mayor
Urge U.S. Senate to swiftly take up and pass H.R. 6 Washington, D.C.— Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, on a bipartisan vote. This legislation, if made law, would give children who came to America at a young age and have built their lives in America
Washington, DC—Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on the shootings in Atlanta: “The shootings last night, resulting in the deaths of eight people in and around Atlanta, remind us of the terrible toll that has resulted from the easy availability of guns in our country and
Washington, D.C. – Today, 151 bipartisan mayors sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to support the passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The bill would enable Dreamers, children who came to the United States at a young age and have since built their lives here
Washington, D.C. – President Joe Biden today signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law, which provides $360 billion in direct financial relief for state and local governments. Since COVID-19 first befell the nation, cities have been on the frontlines of this public health crisis. They have faced rising expenses to fight the virus,
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. These lifesaving bills close serious loopholes in the background check system by ensuring that background checks are completed before weapons are sold and that dangerous individuals who should not be in
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which includes $360 billion in direct financial relief for state and local governments. For nearly a year, many cities have confronted enormous budget deficits as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, and today’s vote ensures local officials can keep
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which includes $360 billion in direct financial relief for state and local governments. Since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, cities have been confronting diminished revenues while taking expensive measures to keep their residents safe, facilitate COVID-19 testing and
Employment at State, Local Level Nearly 1.4 Million Below Pre-Pandemic Level Washington, DC—February was yet another dire month in the labor market, particularly at the state and local government level. In its monthly employment survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a drop of 83,000 jobs in state and local government. With jobs in
Washington, DC – Today the Senate introduced a modified version of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, including critical funding for local governments. The Senate version of the bill preserves this important component of the plan, which American mayors have been calling for since last spring. To date, most American cities have been left behind
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s cities have been confronting a devastating economic crisis. Revenues have plummeted, forcing cities to lay off critical employees and curtail essential services at a time when residents need them most. At the same time, cities have had to launch expensive initiatives to keep their residents safe, develop
Washington, DC—This afternoon, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) met virtually to discuss critical issues facing American cities. The Secretary and the mayors discussed the need to rebuild the immigration system to make it more just and compassionate, address current immigrant resettlement needs in cities
Bill Includes Urgently Needed Resources for Local Governments Hurt by COVID-19 Pandemic Washington, DC – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, legislation built on President Joe Biden’s comprehensive plan to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Among many critical provisions, the bill includes $350 billion in direct fiscal relief
Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5: The Equality Act, a bill that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ Americans by listing sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited grounds of employment discrimination under federal law. U.S. Conference of Mayors President Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer released the following statement in support of the
USCM Has Long Called on Congress to Modernize America’s Immigration System Washington, DC – Today New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez and California Representative Linda Sánchez introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act, sweeping legislation to reform America’s immigration system. The bill is based on a plan released by President Joe Biden on his first day in office
Top Priority for American Mayors in Fight Against COVID Moves Forward Washington, DC – Today the House Committee on Oversight and Reform approved a package of funding that includes $350 billion in direct fiscal assistance to states, local governments, territories and tribes. The legislation is the Committee’s contribution to the larger Biden COVID rescue plan,
Washington, D.C. – Across the country, mayors – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – are renewing their call for Congress to provide direct fiscal assistance to all cities and towns of all sizes. Following a letter signed by more than 420 mayors last month, a growing number of cities, including those in Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky,
WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and The U.S. Conference of Mayors today welcomed the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee’s State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds legislation - to be considered as part of a comprehensive COVID-19 federal package. The bill includes $350 billion in critical aid to
Washington, DC – Today, President Joe Biden signed a series of Executive Orders and presidential directives that will reunify families separated at the border and authorize a review of the previous Administration’s damaging immigration policies that limited asylum, made it more difficult for immigrants to be naturalized, significantly expanded the public charge inadmissibility test, and