Washington, DC— Standing today before the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Rep. John Katko (NY-24) and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled the ‘March To Common Ground’ framework. This bipartisan framework, which Rep. Katko helped author, aims to break through the gridlock on the next COVID-19 relief package and encourage negotiators to immediately resume discussions.
The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in Congress, equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, who are committed to forging bipartisan cooperation on key issues. The Democrats and Republicans developed and came to a consensus on the ‘March To Common Ground’ framework. The package addresses key areas of need for CNY and communities nationwide, including state and local aid, COVID-19 testing, unemployment insurance, direct stimulus, worker and liability protection, small business and non-profit support, food security, schools and child care, housing, and election support.
“I’m proud to join members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to announce a new COVID-19 relief bill, developed and supported by our membership, consisting of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans,” said Rep. Katko. “For weeks, partisanship and posturing have stood in the way of substantive negotiations to address the sustained impact of the pandemic on our country. Our package contains measures that both sides agree on, including additional assistance for state and local governments, and resources for COVID testing, unemployment support, stimulus checks, schools & child care, and PPP. There are more areas where we agree than disagree. I hope this proposal will inspire negotiators to set politics aside, and act as a blueprint to advance discussions.”
Specifically, the ‘March to Common Ground’ framework delivers:
- Testing & Healthcare: $100 billion
- Direct Assistance to Individuals & Families: $316 billion
- Unemployment Assistance: $120 billion
- Small Business & Non-profit Support: $290 billion
- School & Child Care: $145 billion
- State & Local Aid: $500.3 billion
- Election Support: $400 billion
- Broadband, Agriculture, USPS, & Census: $525 billion
- Worker & Liability Protections
- The full framework can found here.
