Federal Issues of Municipal Interest

The League and its federal partner, the National League of Cities, are vigilantly working for the best interests of municipalities in the halls of Washington, D.C. 

American Rescue Plan

Allocation Tracker The NLC's Estimated Local Allocation Tracker for the ARP includes estimations for each municipality. Use the allocation tracker to find out how much your community is eligible for. These estimates are subject to change as the U.S. Treasury stands the program up.

March 18, 2022 NEU and Non-UGLGs Agreements and Supporting Documents User Guide

March 4, 2022 Lunch and Learn ARPA SLFRF Final Rule (Video)

March 4, 2022 Lunch and Learn ARPA SLFRF Final Rule (PDF)

January 12, 2022 SLFRF Final Rule Overview (PDF)

January 12, 2022 US Treasury SLFRF Final Rule Webinar slides (PDF)

March 12, 2021 NJLM ARP Presentation Slides (PDF)

March 12, 2021 NJLM ARP Briefer Video

This $1.9 trillion package includes $350 billion funding for state and local governments as well as direct payments to working families; extensive expansion of child tax credits; aggressive action to speed up COVID-19 vaccinations and contain the virus; provides the resources needed to allow schools to safely re-open; immediate economic relief for Americans hit hardest, and support for struggling communities. 

For more information, please read the NJLM Town Crier Blog: U.S. Treasury Issues Interim Final Rule to Implement Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds and NJLM Town Crier Blog: American Resue Plan Signed Into Law.

You can find information, resources, and the latest NLC updates on COVID-19 Response and Relief at https://www.nlc.org/initiative/covid-19-pandemic-response/. Or follow the following links for specific functions.

ARP Summary of Provisions 

NLC has created an extensive, searchable summary of provisions relevant to municipalities and local leaders in this historic legislation. 

Local Recovery: Five Principles for ARP Implementation

NLC staff has written a CitiesSpeak blog on five principles for ARP implementation.  

  1. ARP Allowable Uses
  2. ARP Prohibited Uses
  3. Eligibility
  4. Defining Revenue & Allowable Time Period
  5. Deadline to Obligate & Spend Funds
  6. Reporting Requirements
  7. Application process
  8. Compliance & Reporting Responsibilities

Within the categories of eligible uses, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities. Recipients may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to:

  • Support public health expenditures, by funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public health and safety staff;
  • Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector;
  • Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic;
  • Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors; and,
  • Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.

The Interim Final Rule gives recipients broad latitude to use funds for the provision of government services to the extent of reduction in revenue. Government services can include, but are not limited to, maintenance of infrastructure or pay-as-you-go spending for building new infrastructure, including roads; modernization of cybersecurity, including hardware, software, and protection of critical infrastructure; health services; environmental remediation; school or educational services; and the provision of police, fire, and other public safety services.

The Treasury fact sheet and Quick Reference guide provide more specifics on eligible uses.


EPA Lead and Copper Line Replacement Listening Sessions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced listening sessions and roundtables to obtain input on the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR). The comment period ends on June 17, 2021. The impact of lead exposure, including through drinking water, is a public health issue of paramount importance. The goal of public engagement is to obtain further input on EPA's LCRR, including from individuals and communities that are most at risk of exposure to lead in drinking water.

Virtual public listening sessions will be held on April 28, 2021, and May 5, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., eastern daylight time. Those interested in speaking must be pre-registered and can sign up for a 3-minute speaking slot.

Members of the public that are unable to attend any of the events will be able to submit comments and reference Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0255 until June 30, 2021.

EPA will host community-focused virtual roundtables in May 2021 to facilitate discussion on unique perspectives on LCCR-related topics with local community groups, utilities, and local government entities, and elected officials.

Starting in June of 2021, EPA will also host virtual roundtables with stakeholder groups. These stakeholder roundtables will allow representatives to discuss LCRR-related topics and provide their national perspective to the Agency. EPA also intends to host a national co-regulator meeting with primacy agencies with states in July 2021 to discuss the feedback received from communities and stakeholders.

EPA requests that communities or organizations that would like to be considered for a community-focused or stakeholder roundtable submit a nomination letter to Agency at LCRR@epa.gov by April 23, 2021.


House Federal Community Projects Process

The House Appropriations Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro announced that they will be accepting Members of Congress’ requests for Community Project Funding in appropriations bills for the 2022 fiscal year. This announcement is the first move in the 117th Congress to open up the process for the reincarnated Congressional “earmark” funding process.

Additionally, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) announced the Committee will provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to submit requests for highway and transit project designations under a new formal process. 

The 117th Congress has written a new set of rules that would allow them to go after key priorities, like COVID-19 relief, climate, as well as revive Congressionally directed spending on projects – known as “earmarks.”

This is a new opportunity, although with a quick timeline, for municipal project funding. More details will be forthcoming but we would suggest you start planning now. Congress members must provide evidence of community support as one of the compelling factors in their decision to select the requested projects.

There will be specific guardrails to prevent excesses that occurred prior to the elimination of earmarks about 15 years ago. They include: 

  • Congress members must submit a written request, which will be posted online
  • Early public disclosure 
  • Ban on for-profit recipients
  • A cap on overall funding at no more than 1% of discretionary spending
  • Congress members are limited to 10 requests, although the number of projects that receive funding will be less than that.

The committee will require the Government Accountability Office to audit a sample of enacted community project funding and report to Congress.

The League’s partner, the National League of Cities has a guide for Transportation Project Designations Process and Timeline that are a good reference point. Further guidance will be provided as it is available. In the meantime, we strongly suggest you review this funding opportunity with your administrator, engineer, and public works department to plan what funding for transportation projects you would like to request as well as reach out to your Congressional representatives.