[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SPECIAL DISTRICTS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 28, 2021

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Special 
Districts Provide Essential Services Act,'' at the request of the 
California Special Districts Association and the 237 special districts 
within California's third Congressional district. I want to thank my 
original cosponsors for their support of this much-needed legislation. 
I also want to thank U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) for sponsoring 
the companion legislation.
  Special districts are independent units of local government that 
provide public services cities and counties do not provide for 
residents. Those services include first responders, policing, 
firefighting, public health, and more, making special districts 
critical to the communities they serve.
  To date, Congress has inadvertently excluded special districts from 
the direct federal financial assistance provided to state, county, and 
municipal governments during this pandemic for essential services. For 
example, special districts are currently ineligible for direct federal 
financial assistance under the ``Coronavirus Relief Fund'' established 
by the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136).
  Our bicameral legislation would ensure that the 2,700 special 
districts in California and 30,000 special districts nationwide are 
eligible for any additional assistance provided by Congress to state, 
county, and local governments to aid in the fight against COVID-19.
  The ``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act'' would also 
allow special districts access to the Federal Reserve's Municipal 
Liquidity Facility, which provides states, counties, and municipalities 
federally guaranteed bridge financing to offset unexpected short-term 
revenue shortfalls. Like states, counties, and cities, many special 
districts serve large populations and have the legal authority to issue 
short-term tax and revenue anticipation notes. However, special 
districts are not currently guaranteed access to the Municipal 
Liquidity Facility, even to offset revenue shortfalls caused by this 
ongoing pandemic
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join us in cosponsoring the 
``Special Districts Provide Essential Services Act.'' Congress must 
ensure that all local governments have the federal support needed to 
deliver crucial quality-of-life services for our communities during 
this global pandemic, including special districts nationwide.

                          ____________________