Congress is intensifying its push for state and local relief in the widely anticipated fifth COVID-19 relief package. This massive federal legislation is anticipated to be introduced as soon as this week and will likely move at a rapid pace through the House of Representatives.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in an interview late last week described the bill as “Rooseveltian”, referencing steps President Franklin Roosevelt’s Administration and Congress took in the 1930s to pad the Great Depression. The bill is expected to include infrastructure programs, language addressing the nation’s deepening unemployment situation, and additional funding for the Coronavirus Relief Fund to address pandemic-related expenditures and, potentially, revenue loss.
CSDA is closely working with Congressman John Garamendi to introduce legislation addressing the inclusion of special districts in the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The bill is expected to include a federal definition of “special district”, a statutory minimum proportion of Coronavirus Relief Fund for special districts, and access to Federal Reserve and U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Municipal Liquidity Facility. A draft of the Garamendi bill is expected soon.
To build a coalition of support for this legislative initiative, CSDA is working with special districts associations in Colorado, Florida, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming to secure congressional support beyond California.
CSDA will keep members abreast of all the latest updates on the COVID-19 Take Action page and the online COVID-19 community forum.
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