Perlmutter, Morelle Introduce Legislation to Provide Additional Funding, Support for States and Tribes

Media Contact: Ashley Verville
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Today U.S. Reps. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) and Joe Morelle (NY-25) introduced new legislation to provide additional support for states and tribal governments to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Coronavirus Assistance for States Act will provide additional funding and flexibility for states and tribal governments to adequately protect and care for their residents and help begin the economic recovery from COVID-19. The funding for each state or tribal government is determined by their relative population and is expected to equal about $1,000 per person for each state or tribal government. The funding provides much-needed relief for states to cover the necessary expenditures incurred during the COVID-19 outbreak, replace revenue lost during the public health emergency, or contribute to the economic recovery for their particular state or tribe.

“State governments are on the front lines of fighting COVID-19, and Colorado’s leaders have done a terrific job of stepping up and effectively dealing with this unprecedented crisis,” said Congressman Ed Perlmutter. “It is the federal government’s responsibility to continue to provide ongoing and necessary support to those on-the-ground so we can ensure each state can adequately meet the needs of this crisis – both on the public health and economic front. Congress started this effort through passage of the CARES Act, and we need to double down on this support to ensure substantial additional funding gets to our states in the next federal package.”

“COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges for communities across our nation, and we will continue to feel its effects for months to come,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “That’s why it’s so important that we take action to ensure states and localities have the financial resources to respond to their changing needs and protect critical social services families rely on. Americans have always proven their resiliency, even in the most trying of times—and I’m proud to partner with my friend Rep. Perlmutter to help provide the support and stability our communities need to get through this crisis safely.”

In addition, Representatives Morelle and Perlmutter plan to introduce the State Operations Stabilization (SOS) Act. The SOS Act would expand the Coronavirus Relief Fund, which was recently enacted as part of the CARES Act, to allow localities to utilize funds as a replacement for lost revenue or to make up a revenue deficit resulting from lost sales tax due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. This would prevent state and local governments from being forced to cut critical social, community, and educational services to make up shortfalls due to lost income.

Perlmutter is also cosponsoring the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, new legislation introduced today by Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02), to provide $250 billion in stabilization funds for local communities, cities and towns in Colorado and across the United States that are facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, the Coronavirus Assistance for States Act and the Coronavirus Community Relief Act will address the need for an increase in state and local aid as requested by Governor Polis and other municipal leaders across Colorado in a recent letter to the congressional delegation.