County Countdown – October 7, 2024
Upcoming Events
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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.
Watch the video above and explore NACo resources below.
Continuing resolution averts federal government shutdown
On September 25, Congress passed a bipartisan measure to keep the federal government open until December 20, 2024.
- County priorities: This resolution includes some progress on county priorities, such as funding for FEMA’s disaster relief fund and support for rural air transportation.
- Advocating for SRS: The measure does not include the renewal of the Secure Rural Schools program, which funds counties with national forests. Counties are urging Congress to address this issue before the current funding extension runs out.
- More to come: This bill was passed before Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the southeast, so Congress is likely to readdress disaster funding in the coming weeks and months.
Senate advances the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act, which aims to enhance FEMA’s disaster assistance programs and give FEMA more tools to help people and communities recover.
- County impact: This bill would simplify the process for disaster survivors to apply for assistance, make the system more transparent, and provide more direct aid for rebuilding.
- Advocacy in action: Counties lead the way in helping residents recover after a disaster, so we are taking action to urge swift passage of this bill.
Truck size and weight limits
NACo has consistently spoken out against efforts to increase the size and weight limits for trucks on our roads. Larger, heavier trucks would cause more damage to local roads and bridges, which are already costly to maintain.
- Why it matters: Counties own nearly half of all public roads and one in four bridges, and the increased wear and tear from bigger trucks would necessitate additional federal support.
- What we're doing: NACo is working hard to convince Congress to keep current truck size and weight limits in place to protect local infrastructure and ensure safety on our roads.
Interest relief for counties with disaster-related loans
In mid-September, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a slate of bills that address disaster relief, fire management and extreme weather response.
- FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act: This key bill would allow counties to get reimbursed for the interest they pay on loans used for FEMA-approved disaster recovery projects.
- Speeding up recovery: Covering these interest costs would reduce the financial strain on counties and help speed up recovery efforts after a disaster.
Election observers to monitor this November’s elections
Congress has renewed the Congressional Election Observer Program ahead of the November 2024 elections. This program trains congressional staff to monitor elections in close races.
- Limited role for observers: Observers are allowed to watch election processes like ballot counting and storage but are not allowed to interfere in any way. Counties still have control over their polling places and can remove observers who break the rules.
- Building trust: This program has been around for years, building trust and ensuring transparency in tight congressional races. NACo is using this program as an opportunity to continue to educate our federal partners about the county role in elections.
Congress enacts a Continuing Resolution to avert government shutdown through December 20, 2024
The U.S. Congress voted to enact a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown through December 20, 2024 just days before the end of Fiscal Year 2024 on September 30.
Senate Committee advances Disaster Survivors Fairness Act
On Wednesday, September 25, the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a markup to consider 16 bills. Among them was the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act (S. 5067), legislation designed to reform federal disaster assistance programs to better support survivors, which passed out of committee with strong bipartisan backing.
Latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks
View the latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advances, House passes key bill with NACo’s support
On September 18, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a full committee markup session, voting to advance 29 measures for House floor consideration.
What counties should know about the Congressional Observer Program ahead of the November 2024 election
The Election Observer Program seeks to increase election integrity and transparency by deploying congressional staff to monitor election procedures.
Related News
County Countdown – Dec. 1, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
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.
County Countdown – Nov. 17, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Upcoming Events
From Secure Collaboration to AI insights: Streamlining GIS Analysis, Field Work and Records Management
Join county government leaders as they share practical, battle-tested ways they’ve transformed operations in the age of AI — from consolidating content and replacing legacy file systems to securing mission-critical election workflows.
Investing in Tomorrow: Jones County's Blueprint for Financial Innovation
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Counties today face increasing pressure to make every public dollar count. Success depends not only on smart financial strategy, but also on strong communication across departments, with the community, and with the board of commissioners. Join Jones County Manager, Kyle Smith, Finance Director, Blake Batchelor, and three+one's Mike Abbott for a 30-minute conversation on how proactive, data-driven liquidity management is helping them plan more confidently, respond faster, and build trust throughout their community.
Attendees will hear how Jones County, N.C.:
- Adopted a forward-looking approach to liquidity and cash-flow forecasting through adopting cashVest by three+one
- Strengthened collaboration across departments and with county leadership • Modernized policies and systems to support future planning
- Communicated strategy and results to commissioners and residents
- Used real-time financial insight to pursue grants, capital projects, and long-term priorities
This session will provide practical guidance that county leaders can apply immediately, whether they are reviewing their investment policy, preparing for capital needs, or working to strengthen transparency with their governing board and community.
Register today to learn how a modern, collaborative approach to liquidity strategy can create value for your organization and the people you serve.
For more information, visit the event page!
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
- Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
- Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
- Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
- Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA