The economic collapse brought on by the spread of COVID-19 has necessitated urgent action to protect our economy. With a $2 trillion emergency stabilization package already approved, Congress and the administration will continue developing other economic recovery legislation over the coming weeks and months. They will continue to need to prioritize immediate, emergency steps required to avert economic disaster, and secondly, they need to focus on catalyzing a long-lasting recovery in the wake of this prolonged crisis. But we must invest wisely. We must not squander money investing in a way that fails to provide a foundation for long-term economic growth. Instead, funds must go to investments that build lasting economic prosperity and ultimately help all Americans have the opportunity to live in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient.

While many sectors of our economy are in need of support, we encourage policy makers to provide support for the infrastructure and community revitalization programs that will protect the segments of the economy most at immediate risk and benefit local communities the most during the nadir of this crisis, while also building a foundation for long-term recovery.

Congress should support the following recommendations for stabilization and long-term recovery, separated into two broad areas: (1) Infrastructure investments, and (2) housing and community development investments.

• Infrastructure
• Housing and community development