NACo Legislative Analysis: Year End COVID-19 Relief and Omnibus Spending Package

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Reports & ToolkitsAfter months of stalled negotiations over the next round of federal coronavirus aid, on December 21, Congress passed a massive $2.3 trillion legislative package containing both appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and additionNACo Legislative Analysis: Year End COVID-19 Relief and Omnibus Spending PackageDecember 22, 2020December 22, 2020, 10:30 am
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NACo Legislative Analysis: Year End COVID-19 Relief and Omnibus Spending Package
After months of stalled negotiations over the next round of federal coronavirus aid, on December 21, Congress passed a massive $2.3 trillion legislative package containing both appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and additional COVID-19 relief.
A big package like this had eluded Congress since they passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) in March with negotiations stopping and starting throughout the summer of 2020.
Although NACo was deeply involved in the negotiations, and was able to secure numerous victories for counties, counties are extremely disappointed that this legislative package does not contain additional direct and flexible funding for state and local governments. Despite the fact that more than 1 million local government employees have lost their jobs, and counties face a daily onslaught of fatalities and economic hardships in our communities, local governments did not get the direct relief they asked from our federal partners.
This legislation does however include another round of Payment Protection Program (PPP) funding for small businesses, unemployment benefits, and funding for vaccine distribution and testing. The bill also includes funding for nutrition assistance, child care and rental assistance to support households impacted by COVID-19. Importantly, after advocacy from NACo and others, the bill also extends the deadline for counties to spend money allocated through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) until December 31, 2021. This extension is no substitute for additional flexibility in that program, or additional aid.
NACo’s new analysis highlights relevant components of the year-end spending deal for county governments, outlining both the COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending package provisions of significance for county policy priorities.
After months of stalled negotiations over the next round of federal coronavirus aid, on December 21, Congress passed a massive $2.3 trill2020-12-22Reports & Toolkits2022-08-30
After months of stalled negotiations over the next round of federal coronavirus aid, on December 21, Congress passed a massive $2.3 trillion legislative package containing both appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and additional COVID-19 relief.
A big package like this had eluded Congress since they passed the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) in March with negotiations stopping and starting throughout the summer of 2020.
Although NACo was deeply involved in the negotiations, and was able to secure numerous victories for counties, counties are extremely disappointed that this legislative package does not contain additional direct and flexible funding for state and local governments. Despite the fact that more than 1 million local government employees have lost their jobs, and counties face a daily onslaught of fatalities and economic hardships in our communities, local governments did not get the direct relief they asked from our federal partners.
This legislation does however include another round of Payment Protection Program (PPP) funding for small businesses, unemployment benefits, and funding for vaccine distribution and testing. The bill also includes funding for nutrition assistance, child care and rental assistance to support households impacted by COVID-19. Importantly, after advocacy from NACo and others, the bill also extends the deadline for counties to spend money allocated through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) until December 31, 2021. This extension is no substitute for additional flexibility in that program, or additional aid.
NACo’s new analysis highlights relevant components of the year-end spending deal for county governments, outlining both the COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending package provisions of significance for county policy priorities.
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The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out">
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Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
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Reports & Toolkits
State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Resource Hub
Explore NACo's resource hub for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.Reports & Toolkitsdocument010512:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
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Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
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ClearGov
ClearGov® is the leading provider of Budget Cycle Management software, focused on helping local governments streamline the annual budgeting process by improving the collection, creation, and communication of their budgets.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="call-out transparent">
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Finance, Pensions & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to the financial resources of counties, fiscal management, federal assistance, municipal borrowing, county revenues, federal budget, federal tax reform, elections and Native American issues. Policy Platform & Resolutions 2022-2023 2022 NACo Legislative Prioritiespagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to the financial resources of counties, fiscal management, federal assistance, municipal borrowing, county revenues, federal budget, federal tax reform, elections and Native American issues.</p>
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