NACo Policy Insider – August 3, 2026

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This week, Policy Insider provides a snapshot of what NACo accomplished on your behalf this month
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August 3, 2026 View in a browser

Monthly Impact Report Each month, NACo goes to work for you – advocating directly with Congress, the Administration and federal agencies on behalf of America's 3,069 counties. Below is a snapshot of what NACo accomplished on your behalf this month – and what to watch next. Estimated read time: eight minutes — jump to section:

By the numbers Wins this month Take action & get involved New NACo resources and reports

NACo Advocacy by the Numbers

12 LETTERS & FORMAL COMMENTS Twelve letters and formal comments submitted focused on OMB Uniform Guidance, housing, surface transportation reauthorization, water infrastructure, public lands and election administration

5 BILLS INTRODUCED OR ENDORSED Five bills introduced or endorsed reflecting county priorities including water resources, public lands, housing and grants management

93 MEETINGS A total of 93 meetings with Congress and federal agencies

Wins this Month

Major Win: Senate Funding Bill Would Delay OMB Uniform Guidance Rule Until December Senate appropriators released text of a stopgap funding bill that would keep the government funded through Dec. 11 – and includes a provision blocking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from finalizing its proposed Uniform Guidance rule. That would push back the OMB Uniform Guidance rewrite to Dec. 11, 2026, a major win for counties. NACo joined national, state and local government partners in a letter sent Friday urging Congress to include the delay. The Senate could vote on the bill as soon as this week, ahead of the August recess. Read more.

Housing: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Becomes Law with Key County Wins The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644 ) was enacted into law after the 10-day constitutional period expired without a presidential signature. The law delivers major wins for counties, including a three-year authorization of the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, ending the unpredictable, case-by-case appropriation process that has delayed disaster recovery funding for years. It also includes meaningful exemptions to Build Now Act provisions, protecting CDBG recipients with a three-year glide path, and a higher bank public welfare investment cap to unlock new private affordable housing financing. NACo will publish a full implementation guide in the coming weeks. Read more.

Disaster Recovery: NACo Testifies Before U.S. House T&I Committee in Support of FEMA Act On July 15, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng testified before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on behalf of NACo. Her testimony highlighted the need to modernize disaster recovery by moving to a grants-based system, cutting bureaucratic red tape and creating a universal disaster assistance application – all core provisions of the bipartisan FEMA Act (H.R. 4669). Read more.

Economic Development: NACo Speaks at Capitol Hill EDA Briefing on BRECC Program On July 14, NACo participated in a congressional staff and member briefing hosted on Capitol Hill by Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) focused on the Economic Development Administration's Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) program, highlighting the critical role counties play in economic transition and recovery in energy communities.

Housing: NACo Participates in Congressional Housing Affordability Roundtable On July 15, NACo participated in a stakeholder roundtable convened by the House Democrats' Affordability Working Group on Housing, highlighting counties' frontline role in addressing housing affordability, the implementation of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act at the local level, and next steps for federal-county partnership on housing production and affordability.

Water Infrastructure: NACo Secures WRDA Reauthorization Progress and SRF Funding NACo secured continued momentum on the biennial Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) (H.R. 9497), which advances county interests related to ports, inland waterways, levees, dams, wetlands, watersheds and coastal restoration. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the bill out of committee by a bipartisan 66-0 vote, and the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released its own WRDA 2026 text, which would also reauthorize the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs – critical funding streams counties rely on for water and wastewater infrastructure. Read more.

Public Lands: NACo Secures Advancement of Small County PILT Parity Act The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced the Small County PILT Parity Act (S. 1175), led by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). The measure would amend the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) formula to provide fairer program funding to more than 160 counties across 25 states with populations smaller than 5,000. NACo previously submitted a letter of support and urges the full Senate to take up the bill. Read more.

Take Action & Get Involved

Act Now: Urge Congress to Support the Funding Bill That Delays the OMB Uniform Guidance Rule OMB’s proposed rewrite of 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) – the federal framework governing how grant funding flows to counties across virtually every policy area – remains a top priority. NACo formally submitted comments on July 12, and joined national, state and local government partners in a letter sent July 31 urging Congress to include the delay. The Senate's continuing resolution would delay the rule until at least December – a major win counties should help secure. County officials should reach out to their senators and representative now expressing support for the funding bill that delays the rule. Access NACo's OMB Resource Hub for background, talking points and a template letter to Congress.

Act Now: SAVE America Act – Reach Out to Your Senators The SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383) would impose significant new unfunded mandates on county election administration. NACo continues to track the bill's movement across both the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800) and reconciliation vehicles. County officials should reach out to their U.S. senators now outlining their concerns with the SAVE America Act and its impact on county election offices. Access NACo's SAVE America Act Resource Hub for background, county impact analysis and a congressional template letter.

New NACo Resources

OMB Uniform Guidance Proposed Rule Resource Hub NACo's resource hub continues to help counties navigate OMB's proposed rewrite of 2 CFR Part 200, including background on the two-track legislative strategy, talking points and a template letter for members of Congress. Access the OMB Resource Hub to make your county's voice heard.

SAVE America Act Resource Hub NACo's resource hub helps county leaders understand and respond to the SAVE America Act, which would impose significant new unfunded mandates on county election administration. The resource hub includes background on the legislation, county impact analysis and resources to engage your congressional delegation.

NACo County Grassroots Advocacy Hub A one-stop destination for county leaders to access tools, resources and action alerts to effectively engage in federal advocacy. Use the hub to find template letters, track NACo's priority campaigns and mobilize your community around the issues that matter most to counties.

Join a NACo policy steering committee Join a policy steering committee to help shape and advance NACo's federal policy agenda. Learn more here.

Join an upcoming NACo webinar See the latest schedule at naco.org/events.

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