WASHINGTON, April 14 — The Economic Policy Institute issued the following news release:

Over 180 organizations across the United States, including the Economic Policy Institute, signed a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership urging them to quickly pass $500 billion in unrestricted aid to states, territories, and local governments. While the first three federal bills included vital resources for the important work of state, territorial, and local governments, the amount of aid allocated to date falls far short of what is needed to hold state, territorial, and local budgets harmless against the enormity of the crisis….