Several Organizations Support Act’s Flexibility for Using ARPA Funding
Strength in numbers! That seems to be the motto of organizations representing a wide range of stakeholders who seek House of Representatives passage of the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011/H.R. 5735), adding that it will help ensure state and local governments can fulfill the congressional intent of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) (Pub. L. 117-2).
In a recent joint letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), 36 organizations explained that the act under consideration, which has already passed the Senate, will give state and local governments the flexibility to use ARPA funds to invest in infrastructure immediately while the previously enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58) is implemented over the next several years.
“This legislation would ensure that state and local governments, which collectively own nearly 100% of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, can meet their responsibilities to the nation as intergovernmental partners,” the organizations said in the letter. “These responsibilities include significant public infrastructure leadership, including owning, operating and maintaining public roads, bridges and our nation’s public transit systems, and providing government services such as public health, justice, human services and safety.”
The letter states that the bill would cap infrastructure investments to ensure funds are not diverted from the ongoing public health emergency, and that providing flexible resources to state and local governments “is the surest way to see our nation’s preparedness and responsivity continue. Passage of this bipartisan legislation will accomplish the true intent of the ARPA ― assisting states, cities, counties, tribes and territories in their recovery from the disastrous impacts of the global pandemic.”
Among the organizations signing the letter include the National Association of Counties, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Public Works Association, Government Finance Officers Association, National Association for County Community and Economic Development, National Association of Regional Councils, National League of Cities, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
We’ll continue to closely follow developments on this legislation going forward.
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