June 30, 2021

Duckworth Discusses Importance of American Rescue Plan Funding For Local Governments with DuPage County Mayors

 

[WOODRIDGE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with DuPage County municipal leaders and members of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC) to discuss how federal funding in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) can help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. In total, Illinois will receive more than $13 billion in relief funding, including more than $2 billion for municipal governments. Photos from today’s event are available here.

“We know our local governments are hurting from the economic impacts of COVID-19,” Duckworth said. “I’m pleased Illinois municipalities will receive this critical funding as a result of Democrats’ efforts to pass President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. It’s important local governments have access and flexibility with this relief funding to ensure our communities have the necessary resources to recover from COVID-19, and I’ll keep doing all that I can to support communities all across Illinois.”

Duckworth met with DMMC President and Westmont Mayor Ron Gunter, DMMC Vice President and Darien Mayor Joe Marchese, Woodridge Mayor Gina Cunningham, Wood Dale Mayor Nunzio Pulice, Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra, Glendale Heights Mayor Chodri Ma Khokhar, Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, Woodridge Manager Al Stonitsch, Oak Brook Interim Village Manager James Kruger, Glendale Heights Manager Michael Marron, Roselle Acting Administrator Jason Bielawski, Glen Ellyn Village Manager Mark Franz, Villa Park Manager Rich Keehner, Westmont Manager Steve May, Bolingbrook Co-Administrator Ken Teppel and Itasca Administrator Carie Anne Ergo.

Last month, U.S. Treasury Department began accepting eligible state and local government requests for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to help COVID-19 response efforts, strengthen support for public services and help retain jobs, assist small businesses and address systemic public health and economic challenges.

In March, Duckworth wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressing the need for quick and flexible guidance from Treasury to states so local governments can get relief immediately. Throughout the pandemic Duckworth has continuously called for maximum flexibility and fairness for local relief dollars.

The DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference is a council of 35 municipal governments in DuPage County, comprising both elected and appointed officials.

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