Letter to the Hon. Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States - Davis, Republican Governance Group Members Call on President Biden to Reject Partisan Efforts and Advance Bipartisan COVID Relief

Letter

Dear President Biden,

As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rage across our country, it remains critically important that lawmakers of both parties work together in response to this crisis. Bipartisanship is not only essential to delivering an effective response to the pandemic, but to demonstrating our shared commitment to unifying the American people and forging the pathway forward together. With this in mind, we urge your Administration to work with leaders and Members of both parties to advance a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package comprised of consensus-driven policies.

Since March, Congress has enacted five bipartisan packages in response to the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These bills were the result of good faith negotiations and have provided unprecedented resources to help American families, hospitals, and businesses navigate this crisis. Critically, these packages demonstrated that congressional lawmakers were capable of overcoming partisan gridlock and taking decisive action in response to the most significant public health emergency of our lifetime.

With consideration of the next COVID-19 relief package already underway, we are concerned by the partisan approach being taken to use budget reconciliation to advance this policy. Since the beginning of this pandemic, it has been clear that there is a pathway forward for bipartisan relief legislation. Strong support can be found on both sides of the aisle for a wide range of consensus-driven policies, including bolstering our national vaccination and testing programs, providing immediate assistance to individuals and families, and building upon existing supports for struggling businesses. Bipartisan negotiations will help accomplish these goals and ensure that the needs of all American communities are reflected in the Federal Government's pandemic response.

Recognizing that common ground exists, as well as the importance of continuing to put forward a bipartisan response to this pandemic, we respectfully request that your Administration work with lawmakers from both parties to negotiate and advance the next round of COVID-19 relief. It is our strong belief that these efforts will provide a much-needed signal to all Americans that bipartisanship in the face of crisis is not only possible, but essential.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this request. We look forward to your response.