Raleigh, N.C. – Legislation appropriating hundreds of millions more in federal relief dollars to local governments, community healthcare services, job retention grants, and programs for vulnerable populations passed the North Carolina House of Representatives this week.
House Bill 1023 Coronavirus Relief Fund Additions and Revisions also provides funding for school nutrition programs, hospitals, health clinics, group homes, child advocacy centers, and domestic violence prevention programs, among a range of critical public services.
The General Assembly previously passed $1.5 billion in pandemic relief in May 2020. This Legislature has now appropriated over $2 billion in CARES Act funding between the two bills.
Senior House Appropriations Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) and Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) released a joint statement:
“This powerful public health and economic relief will reach North Carolina communities directly while we continue to reserve federal funding for an uncertain future as our state faces a $5 billion revenue shortfall from the economic shutdown,” Reps. Saine and Lambeth said.
State House Speaker Tim Moore also released a statement:
“Throughout this emergency and the hurricanes that came before, this General Assembly has provided North Carolina families with responsible budgeting of relief funds, careful stewardship of state savings, while preserving a forward-looking vision for our state,” Speaker Moore said.“This bipartisan package continues to address critical public health and economic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic as we work together to return North Carolina to one of the most competitive states in the nation.”
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