A joint resolution 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 sought to overturn a Department of the Treasury rule that gave state and local governments more flexibility in how they spend remaining COVID-19 relief funds. Specifically, the Treasury rule allowed these governments to count administrative costs—such as the expenses for required audits, reporting, and environmental compliance—as "obligated" funds, ensuring they could still use that money after the 2024 deadline.
If this resolution had passed, it would have nullified that rule, potentially forcing state and local governments to return any funds not strictly committed to specific projects by the end of 2024. For citizens, the bill’s failure means that local governments retain the ability to use their remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations to cover the legal and administrative overhead necessary to complete ongoing community projects through 2026.