County Countdown – January 14, 2025
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Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Congress passes continuing resolution to fund the federal government
The U.S. Congress recently approved a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 14, 2025.
- County impact: This move ensures stability for counties that rely on federal funding for vital services like infrastructure, human services and public safety.
- NACo advocacy: We continue to advocate for a long-term funding solution to provide counties with the certainty needed for effective planning and program delivery.
- For more information on the status specific of FY 2025 spending bills and county funding priorities, access NACo’s FY 2025 Appropriations Tracker.
Critical disaster relief funding secured
Counties are applauding the passage of legislation providing billions of dollars in disaster relief funding. This funding is essential to help communities recover from recent natural disasters while preparing for future challenges.
- Critical county role: Counties are at the forefront of disaster mitigation and response, and these resources bolster our ability to protect residents and infrastructure.
- More from NACo: NACo recently announced the formation of the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force to modernize federal disaster policies, strengthen intergovernmental partnerships and enhance local disaster mitigation, response and recovery capacities.
Other key wins for counties
Counties are celebrating a series of other legislative victories that directly impact our communities.
- The U.S. House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation to enhance child welfare systems, supporting prevention services and foster care.
- Reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration for the first time in 20 years, securing critical resources for county-level economic growth and job creation.
- The passage of an outdoor recreation package will expand access to parks, trails and public lands, enhancing quality of life for millions of residents.
- New federal funding for County Veteran Service Officers ensures counties can better serve those who have served our country.
Social Security Fairness Act becomes law
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.
- Fair treatment for public employees: This ensures that public employees, including many county workers, receive fair treatment in retirement benefits.
- County win: This is a major victory for the public workforce, supporting those who have dedicated their careers to serving our communities.
Register for NACo’s 2025 Legislative Conference and submit your interim policy resolutions
Registration is now open for NACo’s 2025 Legislative Conference, which will take place March 1-4 in Washington, D.C.
- Join nearly 2,000 county leaders for policy discussions, federal advocacy, and opportunities to meet with members of Congress and federal officials.
- Policy resolutions: NACo’s Interim Policy Resolutions Portal is now open, giving counties the chance to shape NACo’s federal policy priorities by submitting resolutions for consideration.
U.S. Congress passes continuing resolution to fund the government until March 14, 2025
The U.S. Congress passed a second Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend federal spending and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025.
Counties Applaud Passage of Critical Disaster Relief Funding
NACo today applauded Congress on county-specific provisions of the American Relief Act, 2025. In addition to ensuring the federal government remains open through March of 2025, the package includes $110 billion in disaster assistance for relief efforts across the U.S.
Social Security Fairness Act signed into law
President Biden signed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act into law, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision.
Now accepting interim policy resolutions for the 2025 NACo Legislative Conference
Submit policy resolutions by February 5, 2025.
Related News
U.S. Congress pass minibus funding package
U.S. House and Senate appropriators passed a “minibus” appropriations package containing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy-Water spending bills.
Federal district court issues ruling preventing the federal government from imposing immigration compliance mandates on grant recipients
On November 4, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition federal grant funding on a recipient’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
State of America’s Counties Address Highlights Intergovernmental Partnership, Cost and Administrative Shifts
NACo President J.D. Clark, national experts share insights at policy summit in Washington, D.C.
Upcoming Events
Advocacy 101 for Counties: Maximizing Your Impact During the NACo Legislative Conference
Learn how to prepare for Hill meetings, effectively advocate for NACo priorities, and translate county experiences into clear federal policy asks.
The Current State of Student Debt and Forgiveness
This webinar is designed for county HR and leadership teams seeking practical ways to support employees struggling with student debt.
Over 9 million public service workers, including full-time county employees, are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Yet fewer than 3 percent have successfully received relief.
The issue is not eligibility. It is awareness, complexity, and follow-through.
Please join us as we speak with student debt forgiveness expert Tony Raffa, who will clarify today’s student debt landscape, including:
- What recent policy and executive actions mean for public sector employees
- How Department of Education changes affect forgiveness eligibility, timelines, and compliance
- Which student debt relief programs do employees actually qualify for today
- The current status of the SAVE program
- Common application errors that delay or derail forgiveness
- Rising delinquency and repayment restart risks
- What HR teams need to know about collections, wage garnishment notices, and employer responsibilities
Attendees will also see how a new student debt navigation tool helps employees estimate their potential forgiveness, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce annual payments by an average of $2,244.
For HR teams, this means a scalable way to offer meaningful financial support without adding administrative burden.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Legislative Conference
Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference.