WASHINGTON OFFICE: 2907 Ravaunn Haute Grice Bunomsa ‘Wasimeron, 06 20518 (aoa 225-0868 LLOYD DOGGETT ‘COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. isralcr ones: SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH a1 W Trae ‘Shannan ‘Sen Arron, TX 78208, suscoymerrree on Congress of the Wnited States tay 7o8s080 SELECT REVENUE MEASURES ComuirTee on auoceT House of Representatives JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION June 17, 2020 The Honorable Greg Abbott Governor of Texas P.O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas Dear Governor Abbott, Yesterday, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Austin Mayor Steve Adler joined leaders of other major Texas cities urging you to return their authority, which you previously usurped to set rules and regulations essential to protect public health and safety. I strongly urge you to grant their request. Sacrificing Texans to non-science-based political ideologies is wrongheaded, irresponsible, and deadly. Austin and Travis County have entered Stage 4 COVID-19 Community Risk. San Antonio and Bexar County have experienced an explosive infection surge with 436 cases reported yesterday. This spike represents a real crisis and the highest single day increase since the pandemic began. As the U.S. surpasses 115,000 COVID-19 related deaths and Texas inches closer to 100,000 confirmed cases, you must allow local authorities to take the steps required to protect the public, Within their limited legal authority, today Judge Wolff and Mayor Nirenberg announced an order mandating that businesses require customers and employees to wear masks when they're on the premises. I support their leadership to take immediate action during this crisis. Further local action is also being considered in Austin and Travis County, 1 applaud the leadership of Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Mayor Steve Adler and County Judge Nelson Wolff for their leadership during this difficult time. In March, you hid behind local control, as our cities led in making tough decisions to stay home and work safe—including painful but correct decisions to cancel SXSW and postpone Fiesta. While President Trump has made being unmasked and unsafe his trademark, you need not abet his, recklessness. Please stop ignoring medical science and interfering with local public health leadership to undermine public safety, Our community has flattened the curve once before. We can do it again—together. Unshackle local leaders to lead since you will not. Sincerely, Ada Lloyd Doggett Lov boscerremalLHouse.cov Facebook commaptioysDosgett ww Doggett hou gov ‘iene ne, ‘@ReplloyeDongett