Supporting the recognition of April 2026 as "National County Government Month" to honor the county government workforce, educate residents about local programs and services, and celebrate the county government role in the intergovernmental partnership.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1213
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04T22:46:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution supports designating April 2026 as "National County Government Month" to recognize the contributions of county governments, highlight their workforce, inform the public about local services, and affirm the role of counties within the broader system of government involving federal, state, and local levels.
Key Provisions
- The resolution includes background statements noting that county governments date back to 1634 in Virginia, with 3,069 such entities today serving under state authority.
- It describes counties as delivering services in areas such as public safety, infrastructure, health care, economic development, and social services, while employing about 3.6 million public servants and being led by over 19,350 elected officials.
- Counties are positioned as partners in the intergovernmental system, investing in infrastructure and supporting about 70 percent of local public health departments with roughly $130 billion annually in health-related spending.
- The operative section resolves that the House of Representatives:
- Supports the month and urges counties, parishes, and boroughs to participate.
- Encourages local jurisdictions to adopt their own resolutions or proclamations and promote county roles during the month.
- Promotes activities to share information about county programs and services.
- Urges members of Congress to engage with communities on the topic.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing law, as it is a non-binding expression of support rather than legislation that alters statutes or regulations.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: It may encourage federal, state, and local coordination by highlighting intergovernmental partnerships, though it imposes no requirements.
- On citizens: It aims to increase public awareness of county services through suggested events like open houses and school programs.
- On international relations: No direct effects, as the focus remains domestic.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- County governments, parishes, and boroughs across the United States.
- The National Association of Counties, which has promoted the observance since 1991.
- Residents served by county programs.
- Members of Congress and their local communities.
- Elected county officials and the approximately 3.6 million county employees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The resolution carries no legal force and does not create enforceable obligations or affect constitutional structures.
- It reflects bipartisan sponsorship in the House but remains a symbolic measure without political enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-04-23: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the recognition of April 2026 as "National County Government Month" to honor the county government workforce, educate residents about local programs and services, and celebrate the county government role in the intergovernmental partnership. — issued 2026-04-23 — PDF (4 pages)