CITY OF SAN ANTONIO
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Intergovernmental Relations Council Committee
FROM: Jeff Coyle, Director of Government & Public Affairs
SUBJECT: Federal Legislative Update
DATE: June 5, 2020
At the Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting on June 10, 2020, Government & Public Affairs staff will provide a federal legislative update regarding the status of additional Congressional Coronavirus stimulus funding and other pending legislation.
HEROES Act (H.R. 6800)
On May 15, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act). The legislation would provide $3 trillion in additional stimulus funding to help address COVID-19. This funding is in addition to the $2.2 trillion CARES Act aid signed into law on March 27. Currently, the bill is stalled in the U.S. Senate and the bill has little chance of passage in the Senate and the White House has threatened to veto. However, the HEROES Act does create a foundation for negotiations to move forward.
The Heroes Act establishes new State and Local Coronavirus Relief Funds through the Department of Treasury. Funds can be used for COVID-related expenses, to replace lost revenues, and to respond to the negative economic impacts of COVID. Funds would be available until expended, providing flexibility over the next several years.
The bill proposes $375 billion in 2020 and 2021 for local governments using a modified CDBG formula for distribution of allocations.
The HEROES Act also proposes to address economic and community development by proposing the following allocations.
CDBG - $5 billion for coronavirus response and to mitigate the impacts in communities to be distributed by formula to current grantees.
Child Care and Development Block Grants - $7 billion for childcare services.
Homeless Assistance Grants - $11.5 billion for Emergency Solutions Grants to assist individuals and families who a...
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