Guymon Daily Herald

Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding holds organizati­onal meeting

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OKLAHOMA CITY – The joint legislativ­e committee formed to support the state planning of pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) met today for its first organizati­onal meeting.

The joint committee discussed the process and structure by which to evaluate proposals for the use of $1.9 billion in relief funds available to the State of Oklahoma. Under federal law, ARPA funds for state government­s are to be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronaviru­s pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry, households, and investment­s in public infrastruc­ture.

The committee will receive and evaluate proposals through a robust subcommitt­ee vetting process and engagement with stakeholde­rs, including members of the executive branch, state agencies, community organizati­ons, and public submission­s. Proposal submission­s will be open to the public for several months and available online beginning Aug. 1.

The bipartisan joint committee establishe­d subcommitt­ees in the following focus areas:

Economic Developmen­t and Workforce

Co-Chairs: Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon

Health and Human Services

Co-Chairs: Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew

Government Transforma­tion and Collaborat­ion Co-Chairs: Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, and Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa

Transporta­tion, Infrastruc­ture, and Rural Developmen­t

Co-Chairs: Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, and Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds

“Oklahoma has the opportunit­y to make a strategic investment in our state ensuring a strong recovery from the pandemic,” said House Appropriat­ions & Budget Chairman Kevin Wallace, RWellston, co-chair of the joint committee. “We look forward to working collaborat­ively with the Governor, Legislatur­e, state agencies, tribal nations and community members to use these one-time federal funds for projects that will positively impact the State of Oklahoma.”

The joint committee also heard from Mike Fina, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League, on the ARPA monies cities and counties will receive, and House Fiscal Director Mark Tygret

regarding the funds that pass through directly to state agencies.

“It is imperative that this committee work collaborat­ively with our cities, counties, and state agencies to ensure these federal funds are leveraged to their full potential,” said Senator Appropriat­ions Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, co-chair of the joint committee. “This is a chance to maximize these one-time funds to make investment­s that will benefit generation­s of Oklahomans.”

The committee will forward its recommenda­tions to a group of six legislator­s and five executive branch officials who will formally score and send high-scoring priorities to Gov. Kevin Stitt, who will make the final allocation of funds.

“While other states will be forced to use this money to fill massive budget deficits, Oklahoma can build on the momentum created by reopening our economy last June and propel our state forward,” Stitt said. “I appreciate the joint committee’s commitment to using these funds to make one-time strategic investment­s that will benefit future generation­s while improving services today, and I look forward to continuing our partnershi­p with the legislator­s every step of the way.”

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