National Association of Counties Joins Over 400 Private Sector Companies and Associations in Calling on Senate to Pass Coronavirus Relief Package with Critical Aid to States and Local Governments

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with more than 400 private sector companies, community groups and civil and workers’ rights organizations, sent a letter to the U.S. Senate calling for the passage of the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds legislation, part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The bill includes $350 billion in critical aid to state and local governments, including $65.1 billion for which every county in America would be eligible. 

An excerpt from the letter reads:

Many states and localities have seen their revenues plummet as a result of the pandemic even as costs have risen sharply to fight the virus and to help millions of struggling people and businesses.

“This pandemic and the resulting economic crisis are not partisan issues. In communities across this country, local officials are desperate to get residents vaccinated, healthy, and back to work.

“These bipartisan calls for urgent support are pouring in from communities of all sizes, from counties of a few thousand residents to Orange County, California and its 3.3 million residents.”

Read the full letter here.

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, among many other essential public services.