Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act of 2020

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8360 To amend title VI of the Social Security Act to modify the restrictions on use of Coronavirus Relief Fund amounts, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 Mr. PALMER (for himself, Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina, Mr. TIFFANY, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. HILL of Arkansas, Mr. PENCE, Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma, Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana, Mr. LUETKE- MEYER, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. ALLEN, and Mr. NORMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned A BILL To amend title VI of the Social Security Act to modify the restrictions on use of Coronavirus Relief Fund amounts, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coronavirus Relief 4 Fund Flexibility Act of 2020’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:40 Oct 05, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8360.IH H8360 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8360 IH SEC. 2. USE OF CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND AMOUNTS. 1 (a) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 601(d) of the Social 2 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 801(d)) is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 ‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A State, Tribal govern- 6 ment, or unit of local government may not use any 7 funds provided under a payment made under this 8 section for lobbying expenses, pensions, raises or bo- 9 nuses for government officials, or budget shortfalls 10 that existed prior to the public health emergency 11 with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 12 (COVID–19). 13 ‘‘(2) RESTRICTION ON FUNDS.—In the case of 14 funds provided under a payment made under this 15 section to a State that is 1 of the 50 States, none 16 of the funds may be obligated except by approval of 17 the legislature of such State. 18 ‘‘(3) FUNDS HELD IN TRUST.—Of any funds 19 provided under a payment made under this section 20 to a State, Tribal government, or unit of local gov- 21 ernment that remain unobligated as of the date of 22 the enactment of this subsection, not less than 25 23 percent shall be held in trust until June 30, 2021.’’. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Oct 08, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8360.IH H8360 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8360 IH SEC. 3. FUNDING FLEXIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION 1 PROJECTS. 2 (a) PROVISION OF MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS.— 3 (1) IN GENERAL.—If a State uses any amount 4 of funds provided under a payment made under sec- 5 tion 601 of the Social Security Act or any non-Fed- 6 eral funds to carry out activities during the period 7 beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 8 ending 1 year after such date that are related to a 9 project receiving Federal financial assistance 10 through the Department of Transportation or a 11 project authorized by the Corps of Engineers and 12 carried out by a non-Federal interest, the Secretary 13 of Transportation or the Secretary of the Army, as 14 applicable, shall provide to such State an amount 15 equal to 50 percent of the funds spent on such ac- 16 tivities. 17 (2) FUNDING.—To carry out this subsection, 18 there is authorized to be appropriated, and there is 19 appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not 20 otherwise appropriated, $25,000,000,000, to remain 21 available until expended. 22 (b) FUNDS ELIGIBLE FOR NON-FEDERAL SHARE OF 23 CERTAIN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.—Funds provided 24 under a payment made under section 601 of the Social 25 Security Act may be used for up to 100 percent of the 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:40 Oct 05, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8360.IH H8360 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8360 IH non-Federal share of any project authorized by the Corps 1 of Engineers and carried out by a non-Federal interest 2 or any project receiving financial assistance under title 23, 3 United States Code, if such funds are used to carry out 4 activities during the period beginning on the date of enact- 5 ment of this Act and ending on the date that is 1 year 6 after such date of enactment. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:40 Oct 05, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8360.IH H8360 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS