Bipartisan Group of Mayors and Congressman Crow Urge Congress to Prioritize State and Local Funding in COVID-19 Legislation

Strategic Insights -

A bipartisan group of mayors and Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) have joined forces to urge Congressional leadership to prioritize state and local funding in the next COVID-19 legislation. The group, led by Crow, includes mayors from eight cities in Colorado's sixth congressional district, all of which have a population below 500,000 and are currently ineligible for direct funding. The mayors are calling for the lifting of the 500,000-person population limit for direct funding, expanding eligibility for COVID relief funds to include revenue shortfalls and other unplanned expenses, and allowing state and local governments to take advantage of the payroll tax cuts in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. If left unaddressed, the mayors warn that local governments will be unable to continue providing critical services, including emergency services, telework arrangements, and hazard compensation for first responders.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bipartisan group of mayors and Congressman Crow are urging Congressional leadership to lower the 500,000-person population limit for direct funding to include cities with populations below 500,000.
  • Currently, all eight cities in Colorado's sixth congressional district, including Aurora, Brighton, Centennial, Foxfield, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Thornton, are ineligible for direct funding due to the population limit.
  • The group is also calling for the expansion of eligibility for COVID relief funds to include revenue shortfalls and other unplanned expenses, citing the need for cities to maintain essential services like water supply networks and police and fire departments.
  • Congressman Crow has cosponsored several bills addressing these issues, including H.R. 6467, the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, H.R. 6508, the State Operations Stabilization Act, and H.R. 6643, the Supporting State and Local Leaders Act.

Statistics:

  • The state of Colorado has received $2.2 billion from the CARES package.
  • The group is urging Congressional leadership to address the substantial shortfalls of the CARES package for state and local governments in the next COVID-19 legislation.
  • If left unaddressed, the mayors warn that local governments will be unable to continue providing critical services, including emergency services, telework arrangements, and hazard compensation for first responders.

Sources:

  • [Crow, Jason. "URGING CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO SUPPORT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE NEXT COVID-19 LEGISLATION." United States House of Representatives, 2020, Congressman Crow's website.]
  • [Crow, Jason. "Letter to Congressional Leadership." United States House of Representatives, 2020, Congressman Crow's website.]