Blogs

The National Special Districts Coalition on Thursday sent letters to key House and Senate committees in support of the Wildfire Emergency Act, advocating for its passage and inclusion in the impending infrastructure package as a resiliency measure. Introduced as S. 1855 by Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and H.R. 3534 by Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., the bills aim to reduce catastrophic wildfire and threats to vulnerable communities using ecologically sound processes through cooperative agreements, research and investment for land management and stewardship, and workforce programs. Many NSDC member associations and the special districts ...

The Biden Administration released its Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal, totaling $6 trillion in federal spending asks or the year ahead. The request accounts for the president’s major initiatives, including the American Jobs Act and the American Families Plan , and entails a heightened focus on climate resiliency, community investment, investments in the human care structure, education, physical infrastructure, and job programs. While the authorization of major initiatives related to key components of the request are already moving in Congress, FY22 appropriations bills readied through the summer will inform whether Biden’s budget requests are fulfilled. ...

The National Special Districts Coalition (NSDC) adopted on Thursday its first-ever federal legislative platform, providing a guide for special districts’ national advocacy. The document serves as the foundation for NSDC’s legislative priorities and outlines key policies impacting the nation’s more than 30,000 special districts across the country. Special districts, or special purpose units of government, are local governments created by the people of a community, as authorized under state statutes, to deliver public services that other units of government do not otherwise provide. Overarching components of the platform include securing a “special district” ...

National Special District Coalition (NSDC) members led a letter to congressional leadership in support of the   Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act , urging them to include the bill’s language in future COVID-19 relief packages aiding state and local government. NSDC calls on all special district to send support letters to their members of Congress and U.S. Senators to share why the legislation is important for special districts and their constituents. U.S. Representative John Garamendi, D-Calif., and U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., re-introduced landmark special districts legislation on January 28 to provide special districts with certain ...

A 28-member coalition of n ational fire and emergency services stakeholders are pressing House and Senate leadership to ensure fire and emergency services districts receive access to future local government aid in the impending coronavirus relief bill. Read the full coalition letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Download Letter

The Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act  would  allocate  critically needed  financial  relief  to  special  districts  that  have experienced unforeseen expenditures ,  decrease s  in revenue , or both,  as a result of the COVID - 19 health crisis.  Nationally, the pandemic’s toll on special districts totals an estimated $30.5 billion through Fiscal  Year 2021. Download Letter

Washington— Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) today   called on the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve   to make short-term loans available to special districts that suffered substantial revenue losses from COVID-19. Special districts –local government agencies that provide specific services such as water, energy, fire, public safety and more –are expected to lose an estimated $30.7 billion due to the pandemic. The Federal Reserve created a program called the Municipal Liquidity Facility to provide short-term loans to state and local governments, including special districts with at least an A- credit rating. However, that program ...

Press Release Washington, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced the Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act ( H.R.7073 ). Currently, special districts are ineligible for direct federal financial assistance under the “Coronavirus Relief Fund” established by the  CARES Act . Garamendi’s legislation would ensure that the 2,700 special districts in California and 30,000 special districts nationwide are eligible for any additional federal assistance provided by Congress to state, county, and local governments to aid in the fight against COVID-19. Original Cosponsors: U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Grace ...

Details on HR 7073, introduced by Congressman John Garamendi can be found in the following link along with a sample letter to take action: HR 7073 bill text . A link to the HR 7073 landing   page is here also. Sample letter   for our members to send in/take action

Special district leaders from the NSDC submitted the following  letter  to Congressional Leaders to ensure districts are included in relief measures.