Attorney General Camacho Joins Effort Urging Congress to Pass Extension for CARES Act Funding

December 1, 2020 – Tamuning, Guam- Attorney General Leevin Taitano Camacho has joined a coalition of attorneys general representing 5 territories, 43 states and the District of Columbia urging Congress to extend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy (CARES) Act funding from December 30, 2020 until the end of 2021. In May, Guam was allocated approximately $117M under the CARES Act.  

“The CARES Act has provided much needed relief to families and businesses during this time of unprecedented uncertainty,” said Attorney General Camacho. “Extending the deadline to use these funds would help territories and states meet the continuing challenges we’re facing.”

COVID-19 has negatively impacted nearly every facet of society. In anticipation of unprecedented costs and economic disruption stemming from the pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act in March. The move provided more than $2 trillion in economic stimulus to state and local governments in an effort to combat the impacts of the pandemic. One of the restrictions placed on the funding, however, limits the money’s use to expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020.

“This time frame likely made sense in late March when the CARES Act was passed, but we have learned a great deal about COVID-19 in the past seven months,” the letter states. “Among other things, we know that the pandemic will continue to challenge communities well beyond December 30, 2020 – a deadline that now seems unreasonable.”

As the pandemic continues to set record infections, states and local communities will continue to incur COVID-related expenses next year. By extending the deadline, communities nationwide will be able to be more strategic with the use of CARES Act funds, the attorneys general said.

To read the letter, and for a full list of attorneys general who signed on, click here.