National Association of Counties Welcomes State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund Extension Act

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund Extension Act, bipartisan legislation to extend deadlines for states to spend federal dollars provided in the CARES Act. National Association of Counties (NACo) Executive Director Matthew Chase issued the following statement:

Counties welcome this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that would provide much-needed time and flexibility to address the continuing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic with existing resources. Nonetheless, we hope Congress and the White House will coalesce around a new coronavirus relief package that will result in additional direct federal aid to counties of all sizes

“The pandemic’s massive budgetary effects for county governments and local taxpayers could total as much as $202 billion in lost revenue and increased expenditures through FY2021. Facing this dire fiscal reality, counties across the country are confronting barriers to delivering critical services to residents, including those suffering from the economic, health and mental health challenges of the COVID-19 virus.

“Counties are investing CARES Act dollars quickly and innovatively. We are pleased that the State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund Extension Act would allow counties to expand broadband access, which Americans have come to rely on for telemedicine, remote work and online learning. This public service is more important than ever.

“We thank Senators Grassley and Hassan for their efforts to offer relief during this unprecedented public health and economic crisis. However, most counties have received inadequate or no federal aid, and we renew our call for an additional coronavirus relief package that includes direct, flexible funding for counties of all sizes.”

America’s 3,069 county governments support over 1,900 local public health departments, nearly 1,000 hospitals and critical access clinics, more than 800 long-term care facilities and 750 behavioral health centers. Additionally, county governments are responsible for emergency operations centers and 911 services, court and jail management, public safety and emergency response, protective services for children, seniors and veterans, and the “last of the first responders” with coroners and medical examiners.

View NACo’s Coronavirus Relief Fund resource hub here.

Read NACo’s legislative analysis of the CARES Act here.

NACo’s coronavirus online hub includes county level examples of response efforts, interactive maps and analyses of federal actions. View this resource-rich webpage at www.naco.org/coronavirus.