A group of New York and New Jersey lawmakers demanded congressional leaders create a new fund to help the states hardest hit by the coronavirus grapple with the virus’s outbreak.

The group of 36 bipartisan lawmakers, who represent the two hardest hit states in the country, wrote a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Ginsburg successor must uphold commitment to 'equality, opportunity and justice for all' Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Pelosi orders Capitol flags at half-staff to honor Ginsburg MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Ky.) urging them to include a fund of at least $40 billion in a relief package that would be allocated based on states’ share of the national coronavirus infection rate.

“The country is in the midst of a once a century public health crisis and New York and New Jersey are at the epicenter of the outbreak,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, which is dated April 10. “Our approach provides resources in a fair manner that properly accounts for not only population, but also the number of positive COVID-19 cases and the impact of the virus on a government’s revenues and bottom line.”

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The request comes amid complaints that states with fewer COVID-19 cases are getting more federal funding per patient than other states that are harder hit. Analysis from Kaiser Health found that states like Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana are getting more than $300,000 per reported COVID-19 case, while New York, the hardest-hit state, is receiving roughly $12,000 per case.

Congress is currently grappling with partisan divisions over the next phase of coronavirus relief. Republicans are adamant on passing a “clean” bill to provide $250 billion to a fund to aid small businesses, while Democrats are eager to tack on additional money for hospitals and state and local governments.

The last relief package, which totaled a historic $2.2 trillion, allocated funds for hospitals and doctors according to their historical share of revenue from the Medicare program for seniors and not according to the number of coronavirus patients they are treating.

The lawmakers said the current formula leaves states with more cases at a disadvantage and that continuing that practice will force harder hit states to make difficult budgetary cuts.

“The current and historical funding formulas used by the federal government are insufficient in the face of this global epidemic. New York and New Jersey need substantial emergency funding in order to fill budgetary holes for critical services during this crisis. Without adequate, and proportional assistance, we fear that our states will be forced to cut services, such as health care, education, nutrition, first responders, free and fair elections, and transportation,” the lawmakers wrote.

The calls echo remarks from both New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoNew York City bus driver knocked out by passenger he told to wear a mask 44 percent of high earners have considered leaving New York City: poll Media's anti-Trump coronavirus spin has real consequences MORE (D) and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who have requested the federal government to provide them with more funds and equipment and warned that they are running dangerously low on crucial tools such as ventilators.