U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement after the Hillsborough County Commission voted today to allocate the $256,847,065 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provided by Congress. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020.

“It is crucial that Hillsborough County develop and implement a sound plan to allocate the $257 million in emergency aid provided by Congress through the CARES Act to community services and assistance for struggling residents as quickly as possible. I’ve met regularly with the county as they developed a comprehensive plan to ensure spending is consistent with the needs I’ve been hearing from our neighbors. Much-needed aid to families, small businesses, first responders and frontline workers is on the way to serve the immediate needs of our neighbors.

“Our county commissioners are stewards of these emergency funds, and the new congressional Select Committee on the Coronavirus also will ensure the CARES Act dollars are being used as intended to help those in need. I’m proud to work with our local partners to help families and small businesses, and I am working to diligently to provide more emergency aid in the days ahead.”

The CARES Act included a $150 Billion State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide states and localities emergency resources to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that Florida has received $8.33 billion in desperately needed funds to benefit our state’s residents.