Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) co-sponsored the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, new legislation led by Congressmen Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) to provide $250 billion in stabilization funds for local communities, cities and towns across the United States that are struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, provided $150 billion in stabilization funds for states and larger communities, but unfortunately, cities and counties with less than 500,000 residents don’t meet the population requirement in the CARES Act. These critically strained areas are our first line of defense, and were left out of direct federal aid. This bill seeks to remedy that issue by creating a new fund dedicated to supporting those local governments with populations below 500,000 residents.
“We cannot leave anyone behind during this public health crisis,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Every county, city, and town has a role to play during this COVID-19 pandemic and we have a responsibility to ensure that they are adequately reimbursed or funded for future disasters. I will continue to work day and night to address areas of need in the CARES ACT and any fight for additional funding for the 15th District of Texas.”
“Communities across the country are struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “Like their larger neighbors, these smaller counties, cities, and towns have faced enormous costs while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. These costs include deploying timely public service announcements to keep Americans informed, rapidly activating emergency operations, readying employees for telework to keep services running, and more. We must ensure each of our communities receive direct stabilization funds to address the outbreak and recover when this public health emergency has passed.”
Congressman Gonzalez’s district is comprised mainly of cities and counties that fall in this category, including but not limited to Edinburg, Pharr, McAllen, Weslaco, Donna, San Juan, Falfurrias, Seguin, Cibolo, New Braunfels, Hebbronville, Three Rivers, Karnes City, George West, Benavides, Stockdale, and San Diego, to name a few. With the exception of Hidalgo County, the other seven counties in the 15th District of Texas do not meet the current 500,000 population threshold in the CARES Act. This legislation would even the playing field for small to mid-size municipalities not only in Texas but across the country.
See the bill text here.
 co-sponsored the Coronavirus Community Relief Act, new legislation led by Congressmen Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) to provide $250 billion in stabilization funds for local communities, cities and towns across the United States that are struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.){kind=link}