Biden's covid-19 relief plan is endorsed by more than 150 top business leaders

Biden asks Congress for $ 1.9 trillion 2:31

(CNN) -

More than 150 top executives from some of the largest U.S. companies in several major industries have lined up behind President Joe Biden's proposed $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package, according to a letter obtained. by CNN.

The group includes top executives representing some of America's powerful business interests, ranging from banks and investment firms, such as Goldman Sachs and Blackstone;

technology companies, such as Google, Intel, and IBM;

hotel companies, such as Loews Hotels & Co., and airlines, including American and United Airlines.

Senior executives from real estate, insurance and utility companies also signed the letter.

"Previous federal aid measures have been essential, but more must be done to put the country on a strong and lasting recovery trajectory," the executives wrote in the letter to bipartisan leaders in Congress.

The letter is sent this Wednesday.

"Congress should act quickly and on a bipartisan basis to authorize a stimulus and aid package along the lines of the American Rescue Plan proposed by the Biden-Harris administration."

Biden, over the course of his first month in office, has relentlessly lobbied lawmakers to pass his landmark legislative proposal, which includes funding for schools, vaccine distribution and infrastructure, states and localities, direct payments and extensions of the expiring unemployment insurance programs.

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The weight of the companies backing the proposal provides a boost to Democrats as the House of Representatives moves toward a final vote on the package later this week and the Senate is scheduled to do the same shortly after.

Signatories to the letter include names that stand out and include David Solomon, president and CEO of Goldman Sachs;

Stephen Schwartzman, President and CEO of Blackstone;

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google;

John Zimmer, co-founder and president of Lyft;

Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast and John Stankey, CEO of AT&T.

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How are the discussions of the help plan against covid going?

Republican support, at least up to this point, has remained non-existent, and even moderate Republican senators willing to negotiate called Biden's proposal too large in scale and scope given the trillions of emergency aid deployed during the first year. of the pandemic.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky attacked the plan as "totally partisan," and Republicans in the House and Senate appear to be united in voting against the proposal, aides from both houses say. .

Biden, however, has been adamant that his proposal is to "go big," and in recent days has challenged opponents of his plan to specifically outline what they would like to remove from the package.

"Now critics say the plan is too big," Biden said at the White House on Monday.

Let me ask you the rhetorical question: what do you want me to take away?

What do you want me to leave out?

The letter from business leaders serves to reinforce Democratic arguments about the size of the package.

"Strengthening the public health response to the coronavirus is the first step toward economic restoration," the executives wrote.

"The American Rescue Plan mobilizes a national vaccination program, provides financial assistance to struggling families, and supports communities that were hardest hit by the pandemic."

Covid-19Joe Biden