Murray, Colleagues Urge Biden Admin to Release Guidelines for Spending Unused COVID Relief Funds for Infrastructure, Disaster Relief

Senators urge Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget to release guidance on the eligibility of left over COVID relief funds to be used for infrastructure and disaster relief projects

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in sending a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young urging their departments to expedite the release of guidance to state and local governments on additional eligible uses for the State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds (SLFRF) provided in the American Rescue Plan.  The release of that guidance will ensure that the funds can be used effectively—before they expire—to address the impacts of the pandemic and invest in long-term infrastructure improvements in communities across the country.

“The allocation of $350 billion from SLFRF has supported state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments as they continue to recover from challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Members wrote. “The additional eligible uses of these funds will build on the original purpose of SLFRF and we ask that Treasury and OMB provide clarity on the timeline for the release of comprehensive guidance necessary for our communities to implement these changes.”

“By leveraging these resources effectively, state and local governments can not only address the immediate impacts of the pandemic but also invest in longterm infrastructure improvements that will benefit communities for years to come,” the Members continued. “SLFRF recipients have been in a holding pattern since the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. Without clear guidelines and instructions from Treasury and OMB, state and local governments face uncertainty and challenges in accessing and utilizing the SLFRF effectively. Timely guidance will enable governments to plan and execute infrastructure projects, make informed financial decisions, and maximize the impact of these funds on the needs of our communities within the given timeframe.”

The letter was also signed by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).

The full text of the letter is here.

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