A group of five Pennsylvania lawmakers recently urged House leadership to extend the deadline for Coronavirus Relief Funds for an additional year.
The federal CARES Act appropriated $150 billion to states and localities, but some states have a balance. Funding is for expenditures not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency, and costs incurred between March 1 and Dec. 30.
“As we continue to address challenges associated with COVID-19, it has become clear that additional flexibility will be required to ensure that CARES Act funding is appropriately utilized in a manner consistent with the intent of the law,” the letter said.
The LOCAL Act, introduced in the House two weeks ago, would extend the deadline through Dec. 31, 2021. The bill would allow governments to pay costs associated with the pandemic without taxing residents.
The bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Glenn Thompson (R-PA).
“This act gives our counties the time needed to use federal resources,” Dean said.
The letter was signed by Dean, Thompson, as well as U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), and Susan Wild (D-PA).