September 29, 2020 - Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Josh Harder (both D-Calif.) on Monday led a group of their colleagues to send a letter to congressional leadership urging them to include a six-month 
extension for states and local governments to spend their allocations of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) as provided by the CARES Act in any upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.
The members wrote, “We believe that a six-month extension of the December 30, 2020 deadline would allow states and local governments to meet the additional challenges anticipated during the next year. For example, such an extension would help:
- Allow schools to better close learning gaps, plan for safe school re-openings, and address other barriers and associated costs.
- Prevent unnecessary layoffs that will slow the economic recovery. States and localities have already laid off 1.1 million workers, of which half of those are in K-12 education.
- Provide safe housing for homeless and unstably housed individuals at risk of contracting COVID-19.”
In addition to Feinstein and Harder, the letter was also signed by Representatives Ami Bera, M.D., Grace F. Napolitano, Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Barbara Lee, Mark DeSaulnier and Juan Vargas (all D-Calif.).
The full text of the letter can be found here and below:
September 28, 2020
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Speaker Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Minority Leader Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leaders McCarthy and Schumer:
As negotiations continue on the next COVID-19 relief package, we urge you to include language providing a six-month extension to states and local governments to spend their allocations of the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) as provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented public health and economic crisis, causing severe disruptions to state and local governments, including the provision of education, health, and critical social services. The $150 billion in emergency CRF funding the CARES Act provides was a necessary first step to help offset the impact of COVID-19 on state and local governments. However, the use of these funds was also restricted, and the various disruptions caused by the pandemic have made it difficult for some jurisdictions to ensure they can meet the December 30, 2020, deadline for expenditure.
We believe that a six-month extension of the December 30, 2020 deadline would allow states and local governments to meet the additional challenges anticipated during the next year. For example, such an extension would help:
- Allow schools to better close learning gaps, plan for safe school re-openings, and address other barriers and associated costs.
- Prevent unnecessary layoffs that will slow the economic recovery. States and localities have already laid off 1.1 million workers, of which half of those are in K-12 education.
- Provide safe housing for homeless and unstably housed individuals at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We look forward to working with you to ensure that states and local governments have the flexibility they need to best respond to the needs of the communities that they serve.
Sincerely,
Dianne Feinstein Josh Harder
United States Senator United States Representative
Ami Bera, M.D. Grace F. Napolitano
United States Representative United States Representative
Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. Barbara Lee
United States Representative United States Representative
Mark DeSaulnier Juan Vargas
United States Representative United States Representative
Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein
