Rep. Cartwright: American Rescue Plan Estimated to Bring at Least $300 Million to NEPA to Protect Jobs and Critical Public Services

Press Release

U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today announced that the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden yesterday would make an estimated $300 million available directly to the counties and larger cities that comprise the Eighth Congressional District. Millions more will also be distributed to the state government to pass on to boroughs, townships and smaller cities. These urgently needed resources will help keep frontline employees like police, firefighters and EMS workers on payroll and maintain essential local public services.

"The American Rescue Plan is now law, and more help is on the way to Northeastern Pennsylvania," Rep. Cartwright said. "I pushed for this because it is desperately needed to pay for police departments, first responders, municipal waste collection, street and road repair, and the whole range of local government services we depend on. The pandemic created shortfalls in the revenue that normally pays for all these things."

Relief Funding Estimates for Counties and Cities in PA-08

County Allocations

Allocation ($ millions)

Lackawanna

40.66

Luzerne

114.70

Monroe

33.02

Pike

10.82

Wayne

9.96

Total

209.17

Metro cities

Allocation ($ millions)

Hazleton

17.90

Scranton

69.90

Wilkes-Barre

38.80

Total

126.61

Source: Calculated estimates prepared jointly by the House Committees on Appropriations, Oversight and the Budget.

These funds will be distributed through the U.S. Treasury Department via the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund created by the American Rescue Plan. The Pennsylvania State Government will also receive millions of relief dollars to distribute to boroughs, townships and smaller cities in Eighth Congressional District counties. Localities of every size would receive dedicated allotments.

The American Rescue Plan also creates a Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, from which Pennsylvania's state government is estimated to receive $7.29 billion. From a Capital Project Fund, the state government would receive an estimated $279 million to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency.

Funds are available for use until December 31, 2024.

All matters of execution -- including allocations of funding, regulations prescribing eligible uses of payments and resolving matters of statutory ambiguity -- will be determined by the guidance and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury, which will be determinative. As such, final allocations may vary from the estimates provided above.

Note: Metro cities estimates use FY2020 HUD data to identify populations eligible for assistance. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) urban county adjustments use FY2020 HUD data to identify populations eligible for assistance. Funding to localities would be reduced to the extent that such cities apply for and receive funding as a metro city under this proposal.

In all, the American Rescue Plan makes available $350 billion for state and local government entities across the U.S. through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, $10 billion through a Capital Project Fund and $2 billion for counties where there is a negative revenue impact from federal activities.

Source