Reps. Rouda and Cisneros Lead Bipartisan Letter to U.S. Treasury Department Requesting Spending Guidance for Local Governments

Statement

Representatives Harley Rouda (CA-48) and Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39), along with 22 Members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury requesting clear guidance be delivered to States and local governments on the eligible uses of funds provided by the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

"States and larger localities need immediate guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department on how they can use $150 billion in federal funding, including whether those funds can be disbursed to local governments," said Rouda. "Due to population stipulations, not a single city in Orange County qualified for direct COVID-19 stimulus funding. Without traditional revenue, our cities are counting on financial assistance from the CARES Act to continue keeping Orange County residents safe and healthy."

"Our cities are on the frontlines of this crisis. While the demand for city services has increased dramatically, the lack of revenue has put a huge strain on city budgets," said Cisneros. "I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan letter with Rep. Rouda urging the Treasury Department to issue clear, immediate guidance on how the coronavirus relief fund can be distributed to our cities. The 500,000 population threshold is preventing many of our cities, including all of our 39th District cities, from accessing critical funding."

Source