$542 Million In Nassau Funds ‘A Game Changer’: U.S. Rep. Suozzi

WASHINGTON, DC — A little over an estimated half billion dollars in COVID-19 relief aid is headed for Nassau County to help its local governments with unplanned pandemic expenses under provisions in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) called the package a game changer in a Zoom news conference Thursday where he discussed how its provisions will directly benefit the fiscally hard-hit region with Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

He said the package will transform the country and will help defeat the virus.

“Yesterday, a very important thing in our nation’s history happened,” Suozzi said.

Curran said the direct aid puts the county in the position to continue providing much-needed services, such as its vaccination program, to residents. She lauded other aspects of the package that help residents directly like the stimulus checks, aid for children and childcare, small business loans, and aid for the restaurant industry.

“This [plan] provides help directly to Americans, especially families in need,” she said.

Here Is What Nassau County Residents Should Know:

1. $542 Million In Aid Is Headed To Nassau County And Its Local Governments

Nassau County will receive an estimated $397 million in aid. Its three townships will receive $142 million between them. The towns of Oyster Bay, Hempstead, and North Hempstead will receive $33, $25, and $84 million, respectively. The money will be shared between the towns and local villages within each town’s jurisdiction, though it is subject to the U.S. Treasury Department’s formula.

Also included in the package is about $3 million for the City of Glen Cove.

The funding will be used to cover pandemic costs, make up lost revenue due to the economic shutdown, will help schools fully reopen safely, and will keep essential public employees, such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers on-the-job.

2. New York Will Have The Means To Provide State Aid To Nassau’s School Districts

While New York will receive $23 billion in aid alone, about $12.6 billion of that will be going to the state, which provides school aid to local school districts. Suozzi said school officials have been “desperate to find out” whether the institutions would receive aid this year to help with their budgets, which have taken a hit due to unplanned pandemic expenses, like protective guards around school desks.

“They are going to get their state aid now,” he said.

3. The Package Contains $505 Billion That Will Directly Affect Residents, $137 For Businesses

Over $500 billion has been included to help residents in areas such as unemployment insurance, childcare, and housing assistance. A major perk of the package is that it contains $246 billion to extend Enhanced Unemployment Insurance, which was set to expire next week. It also includes $219 billion for children and childcare so that parents can return to work. There is also $40 billion set aside to aid homeowners and renters.

The package also contains $137 billion that will be available to businesses. There is $109 billion to help farmers and small businesses, and $28 billion to provide aid to restaurants and live venues.

A breakdown of some provisions in the American Rescue Plan can be found below or here.

• $350 billion for struggling state and local governments
• $246 billion for unemployment insurance
• $219 billion for children and childcare so parents can return to work
• $178 billion to help reopen schools
• $176 billion for vaccinations and healthcare
• $109 billion for farmers, and small businesses
• $47 billion for FEMA and disaster relief
• $40 billion for renters and homeowners who need assistance
• $28 billion for restaurants and live venues

The bill was signed into law Thursday by President Joe Biden.

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Legis. Kevan Abrahams said the plan will deliver “long-awaited aid directly to the working- and middle-class families that were hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“In addition, local government funding contained in the plan will equip Nassau County to solidify its support for crucial social-service and public health programs that are lifelines to so many residents,” he said. “While there is still much more work to do, this relief package represents the most robust federal anti-poverty legislation passed in a generation and is a giant step forward for Nassau County and the nation on its long road to full recovery.”