Counties Applaud Committee Passage of Coronavirus Relief Package with Essential Aid

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) today welcomed the passage of the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds legislation, part of a comprehensive COVID-19 federal package, by the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee. The bill includes $350 billion in critical aid to state, local and territorial governments.  

NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase issued the following statement:

We thank Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform for passing the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds, which would provide relief to America’s counties on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This bill recognizes the vast county role in mitigating the public health and economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the essential frontline services we provide. 

“After a year of this crisis, far too many counties have received no, or very limited, direct fiscal relief. Unfortunately, the pressing challenges and needs facing our counties and cities continue to outstrip our depleted local resources.

“Counties continue to expend enormous resources to meet the needs of our residents. We are fighting to end the virus, vaccinate residents, revive our struggling economies, and serve our most vulnerable residents, including our seniors, children, unemployed, sick and frontline workers.

“We also urge lawmakers to invest in the urgent task of vaccinating our residents and mitigating the spread of this deadly, destructive virus.

“The provisions in this bill and President Biden’s American Rescue Plan would strengthen the federal-state-local response to COVID-19, and we call on the full House of Representatives to swiftly pass the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds.”