February 18, 2021

There is positive news at the federal level as direct and robust fiscal relief to all counties is included in budget reconciliation legislation that the House is anticipated to vote on next week. For California alone, the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund is estimated to provide $7.7 billion in funding to all 58 counties that can be used flexibly for public health emergency costs, addressing negative economic impacts of the pandemic, and replacing lost revenue. Now is the time for counties to do everything we can to ensure this funding remains in the final legislation that is passed by Congress and sent to the President.

Urgent Call to Action

County officials are encouraged to take two actions TODAY to urge support for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund that is included in budget reconciliation legislation.

1. Please call or text your Members of Congress using the below talking points:

• Counties support the immediate passage of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
• Counties have been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic and are now leading local vaccination efforts that are needed to mitigate the COVID-19 public health crisis.
• County budgets have been dramatically impacted by the pandemic and economic downturn, and these revenues fund critical safety net services, including health, behavioral health, social services, and public safety programs.
• The direct relief provided by the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund is needed by California counties for the public health response, to preserve the local safety net, and to meet the increased demand for the county-administered services that hold local communities together.
• Without this federal support, there will be dire consequences, including employee layoffs and cuts to safety-net services.

2. Please send a letter of support to your Members of Congress utilizing this county sample letter.

CSAC sent correspondence to the California congressional delegation outlining specific support for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and additional provisions of the budget reconciliation legislation. Congress is moving closer to providing additional direct COVID-19 relief to counties and we need to sustain this momentum by communicating how vital this funding is to help our communities respond to and recover from the pandemic.