* NCSL…
The U.S. Senate approved an estimated $2 trillion stimulus package to battle the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, though concerns with the unemployment provisions remain. A few highlights of what’s included in the package:
• Creates a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state, local and tribal governments. See estimated state allocations courtesy of Federal Funds Information for States.
• Provides $30 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund for states, school districts and institutions of higher education for costs related to the coronavirus.
• Provides $45 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund for the immediate needs of state, local, tribal and territorial governments to protect citizens and help them respond and recover from the overwhelming effects of COVID-19.
• Provides $1.4 billion for deployments of the National Guard. This level of funding will sustain up to 20,000 members of the National Guard, under the direction of the governors of each state, for the next six months in order to support state and local response efforts.
• Provides an additional $4.3 billion, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support federal, state and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus.
• Extends the Oct. 30, 2020, Real ID implementation deadline to Sept. 30, 2021.
• Provides $25 billion for transit systems. These funds would be distributed through existing formulas including the Urbanized Area Formula Grants and Formula Grants for Rural Areas using fiscal year 2020 apportionment formulas.
• Provides $400 million in election security grants to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus in the 2020 federal election cycle. States must provide an accounting to the Election Assistance Commission of how the funds were spent within 20 days of any 2020 election.
• Expands unemployment insurance from three to four months, and provides temporary unemployment compensation of $600 per week, which is in addition to and the same time as regular state and federal UI benefits.
• Establishes a $500 billion lending fund for businesses, cities and states.
• Provides a $1,200 direct payment to many Americans and $500 for each dependent child.
And if you click that link, Illinois’ share of the $150 billion is $2.7 billion, with another $2.2 billion to local governments here. But that doesn’t include the other programs.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Here’s a breakdown from US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s office…
Breakdown of funds to IL for various key programs:
• Election Assistance ($400 million total): $13.9 million federal share + 5% state match ($695 thousand)= $14.6 million
• Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program ($850 million total): $31.9 million
• Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG): FY2020 Regular Appropriations ($189.5 million) + COVID Supplemental Appropriations ($117.5 million) = $307 million (an additional $117.5 million)
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): $17.8 million
• CDC Coronavirus State, Local, and Tribal Grant (Through the Public Health Emegrency Prpearedness Program) Awards: $16.3 million
• Emergency Solution Grants (ESG): $99 million
• Federal Transit Administation (FTA) Formula Distribution: $1.6 billion
• Housing Opportunities for Persons With Aids (HOPWA): $1.7 million
• Low Income Housing Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program: $13 million
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP): $2.2 million
• National Endowment of the Arts (NEA): $528,000
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $799,000
*** UPDATE 2 *** Chalkbeat has a good roundup of what schools can expect. Small excerpt…
Districts will be able to use their portion of the $13.5 billion on a wide variety of things, including:
• Supplies for cleaning and sanitizing schools and school district buildings
• Efforts to help students from low-income families, students with disabilities, English learners, “racial and ethnic minorities,” homeless students, and students in foster care
• Coordinating long-term school closures, including meals, technology, and serving students with disabilities
• Buying technology, including connectivity, to help students continue learning, including adaptive equipment for students with disabilities
• Items principals need “to address the needs of their individual schools”
• Mental health services
• Planning and providing in-person or online summer learning programs and after-school programs
• Continuing to provide district-level services and employ staffers
*** UPDATE 3 *** Good news, but let’s hope he also releases the money. New York and California complained yesterday about that very thing…
