County Countdown – October 7, 2024

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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.

Featured This Week

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Advocacy

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. 

Fire aftermath
Advocacy

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.

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Advocacy

Latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks

View the latest NACo advocacy on the size and weight of heavy trucks.

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Advocacy

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.

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Advocacy

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.

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U.S. Senate passes amended reconciliation bill text: What it means for counties

On July 1, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed their version of sweeping budget reconciliation legislation.

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Press Release

County Leaders Visit Washington to Share Local Perspective on Budget Reconciliation

Elected officials from five states sound alarm about administrative and funding changes to SNAP and Medicaid.

A diversion outlet returns floodwaters to the Red River in northern Cass County, N.D. A diversion channel carries floodwater west of Fargo and other Cass County areas. Photo courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers
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Diversion project spells relief from Fargo-area flooding

After suffering several top-10 worst floods in just a few years, Cass County, N.D. citizens voted for a sales tax that funds a massive diversion project that should protect the growing region from the Red River’s swells.

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts

Curious about Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and how they impact your county’s pharmacy benefits? This webinar from NACo's Public Promise Insurance breaks down what PBMs do, why they matter to counties, and how new legislation may reshape the cost and delivery of prescription drugs.