In DC, Suozzi Fights for New York; Latest COVID Package includes his Biggest Priorities; Slams McConnell

Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D - Long Island, Queens) traveled down to Washington, DC to ensure House passage of the Heroes Act, the COVID-19 stimulus package which includes Suozzi’s biggest priorities:

• A special fund based on ‘rate of infection’ for the hardest-hit states;
• The elimination of the cap on State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions;
• Billions of dollars for local municipalities, in New York, both with populations over 50,000 people and under 50,000

Ahead of the vote, Suozzi spoke on the House floor in support of this critical legislation, and slammed Senate Leader Mitch McConnell for his comments that the Heroes Act is simply a “blue state bailout”.

A transcript for Suozzi’s speech (as prepared for delivery) can be found below, and a video link to the floor speech can be seen here. 

Mr. Speaker, I represent three of the six hardest-hit counties in America.

New York is the epicenter of this pandemic.

As a former Mayor and County Executive, my biggest priorities have been to deliver funds to New York based upon the rate of infection and to eliminate the SALT cap.

Both are included in the Heroes Act.

Republican and Democratic Governors, Mayors, and local officials all support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it is the height of hypocrisy for Senator McConnell to call this a blue state bail out when my state sends billions more to the federal government than it receives every year, all to the benefit of Senator McConnell’s home state of Kentucky.

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