Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Treasury relating to "Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds".
Summary
This joint resolution, introduced under the Congressional Review Act, seeks to overturn a specific Department of the Treasury rule regarding how state and local governments manage COVID-19 relief funds. The Treasury rule in question allows governments to count administrative costs—such as those for audits, reporting, and environmental compliance—as "obligated" funds, even if the money hasn't been spent yet, provided they meet certain deadlines.
If this bill becomes law, it would nullify that rule, potentially making it more difficult for local governments to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds for the administrative oversight required to complete long-term projects. For citizens, this could mean that some local recovery initiatives face stricter spending timelines or increased pressure on local budgets to cover the legal and technical costs of closing out federal grants by the 2026 deadline.