The debt incurred by state and local governments because of the pandemic is staggering -- and now a federal bill to erase some of that has been passed in the House.

Long Island Democrats and Republicans joined forces Wednesday to push the Senate to approve coronavirus relief funding. They say tens of billions of dollars have been lost fighting the virus.

"Without an increase in aid from the federal government, local governments will face unprecedented economic damage. We can't let that happen," says Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

For almost two months, the proposed $2 trillion HEROES Act has been at a standstill. In New York, the measure would bring billions in aid to families and local governments struggling due to the pandemic.

"We need to keep the pressure up as a bipartisan group that this needs to be done, because if we don't, our state is in trouble, our school districts are devastated, our counties are annihilated and our towns and villages are going to be suffering greatly," says Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi.

Hofstra professor of economics Martin Melkonian says without greater federal assistance, the state will pay the price with more unemployment.

"As people who've been unemployed for awhile stop spending, and if there are no additional funds coming in, there's going to be a severe problem of spending and further unemployment," he says.

The Democratic-led House passed the measure two months ago, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the package as a "liberal wishlist."

Republican Rep. Peter King says McConnell may get on board with Democrats' push for more state and local funding as new coronavirus cases spike in GOP-led states.

"The fact is though, Sen. McConnell of Kentucky has tried to make this a partisan issue - which is wrong," says King. "This is a tragic way to go about it, but the fact that the virus is hitting so many of the so-called red states may cause him to be more realistic and more honest about the need to get this aid."

Senate Republicans say details of their plan could be released next week when they return from the July 4 recess.