County Countdown – October 7, 2024

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

Watch the video above and explore NACo resources below.

Continuing resolution averts federal government shutdown

On September 25, Congress passed a bipartisan measure to keep the federal government open until December 20, 2024.

• County priorities: This resolution includes some progress on county priorities, such as funding for FEMA’s disaster relief fund and support for rural air transportation.
• Advocating for SRS: The measure does not include the renewal of the Secure Rural Schools program, which funds counties with national forests. Counties are urging Congress to address this issue before the current funding extension runs out.
• More to come: This bill was passed before Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the southeast, so Congress is likely to readdress disaster funding in the coming weeks and months.

Senate advances the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the Disaster Survivors Fairness Act, which aims to enhance FEMA’s disaster assistance programs and give FEMA more tools to help people and communities recover.

• County impact: This bill would simplify the process for disaster survivors to apply for assistance, make the system more transparent, and provide more direct aid for rebuilding.
• Advocacy in action: Counties lead the way in helping residents recover after a disaster, so we are taking action to urge swift passage of this bill.

Truck size and weight limits

NACo has consistently spoken out against efforts to increase the size and weight limits for trucks on our roads. Larger, heavier trucks would cause more damage to local roads and bridges, which are already costly to maintain.

• Why it matters: Counties own nearly half of all public roads and one in four bridges, and the increased wear and tear from bigger trucks would necessitate additional federal support.
• What we're doing: NACo is working hard to convince Congress to keep current truck size and weight limits in place to protect local infrastructure and ensure safety on our roads.

Interest relief for counties with disaster-related loans

In mid-September, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced a slate of bills that address disaster relief, fire management and extreme weather response.

• FEMA Loan Interest Payment Relief Act: This key bill would allow counties to get reimbursed for the interest they pay on loans used for FEMA-approved disaster recovery projects.
• Speeding up recovery: Covering these interest costs would reduce the financial strain on counties and help speed up recovery efforts after a disaster.

Election observers to monitor this November’s elections

Congress has renewed the Congressional Election Observer Program ahead of the November 2024 elections. This program trains congressional staff to monitor elections in close races.

• Limited role for observers: Observers are allowed to watch election processes like ballot counting and storage but are not allowed to interfere in any way. Counties still have control over their polling places and can remove observers who break the rules.
• Building trust: This program has been around for years, building trust and ensuring transparency in tight congressional races. NACo is using this program as an opportunity to continue to educate our federal partners about the county role in elections.