NACo Calls on Congress to Send Coronavirus Resources Directly to Counties

NACO-Logo (1)In a letter to congressional leadership, the National Association of Counties (NACo) has urged for a portion of critical coronavirus resources to flow directly to nation’s 3,069 counties:

Counties nationwide are committed to working with both Congress and the Administration to advance legislation that assists with the mitigation of this public health crisis and its potential far-reaching economic, health, and safety impacts on our nation. We respectfully urge that a portion of the federal resources directed at the pandemic flow directly to counties, based on our statutory responsibilities. We also appreciate the  bipartisan efforts of Congress and the Administration to provide an appropriate level of flexibility to address rapidly changing conditions.

The letter included a list of  critical items they would like congress to address including:

  • Deployment of Testing Equipment
  • Access and Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment for Essential County Service Providers
  • Clarification on FEMA Resources and Additional Funding
  • Ensure that Robust Behavioral and Mental Health Services are Maintained
  • Strengthen the Local Health Care Safety Net
  • Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Regulation (MFAR) Moratorium
  • Emergency Funding for Publicly Funded Child Care, Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Provide Greater Certainty for TANF
  • Restore Advance Refunding Bonds
  • Increase Access to Capital for Small Borrowers
  • Clarify Tax Credits for Paid Sick and Paid Family and Medical Leave for County Employers
  • Mandatory Funding for Payments In-Lieu of Taxes (PILT)
  • Expand Use of Secure Rural Schools (SRS)
  • Preserve Local Emergency Communications Networks
  • Increase Broadband Access
  • Additional Funding for the 2020 Census
  • Funding and Flexibility for Elections:
  • Funding for Critical Housing Programs
  • Return Solvency to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF)
  • Authorize and Appropriate Funding for the Public Transportation Emergency Relief (PTER) Program (49 U.S.C. 5324)
  • Uncap the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and Index it to inflation
  • Allow Flexibility in Hiring
  • Fully Fund Programs that Support Local Airports
  • Increase the Local Share of the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBGP)

For more information:

NACo letter to Congressional leadership on continued Coronavius response