6:20
The House is expected to pass the latest COVID relief package Friday or over the weekend. The American Rescue Plan includes $350 billion in funding for state and local governments, something for which Democratic New York Congressman Antonio Delgado has been advocating for some time. If the package is passed as is, his 19th District would see more than $400 million. He spoke with WAMC’s Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Allison Dunne Thursday afternoon.
Delgado says the $400 million for New York-19 includes aid for counties, towns, villages and hamlets.
If the package makes it to the president’s desk and is signed, and as it stands now, counties would receive funding directly from the Department of the Treasury within 60 days. The state would allocate funding to municipalities, with fewer than 50,000 residents, as is in the case in New York-19, within 30 days; for municipalities with more than 50,000 residents, 60 days.
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Two of Democratic New York Congressman Antonio Delgado’s bills to support veterans await President Trump’s signature.
The House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass a legislative package with two of Delgado’s bills. One is the Fairness for Local Veteran Cemeteries Act to ensure county-run veteran cemeteries in states without state-run veteran cemeteries are eligible for federal funding. Delgado, speaking on the House floor, describes his other bill.
“H.R. 7105 also incorporates my Improving Benefits for Underserved Veterans Act, which would require the VA to publish a report on veterans’ benefits disaggregating by sex and minority group member status an important step leveling the playing field for women and minority veterans,” says Delgado.