Cornyn Introduces Amendment to Allow State and Local Officials to Use Unspent COVID Relief on Infrastructure

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced an amendment to make several categories of infrastructure investments eligible for unspent Coronavirus Relief Fund and State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund dollars. It would also extend the deadline to utilize coronavirus relief funding if budgeted for eligible infrastructure projects.

"I have heard from state and local officials throughout the pandemic that the virus interrupted critical infrastructure projects across Texas," said Sen. Cornyn. "This legislation would give state and local governments the flexibility they need to make the best spending decisions for their communities and increase critical investments at the local level."

Background:

This amendment would give state and local officials the flexibility to responsibly spend their own funds from the American Rescue Plan and the CARES Act. Under this legislation, any project currently eligible for funding under the following programs would now be eligible for financing with COVID relief dollars, including:

Surface:

STBG -- Surface Transportation Block Grant
NHPP -- National Highway Performance Program
HSIP -- Highway Safety Improvement Program
NHFP -- National Highway Freight Program
CMAQ -- Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program
MTP -- Metropolitan Transportation Planning
Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Programs
Territorial and Puerto Rico Highway Program
Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program
RAISE Grant program
TIFIA Loan Program
Transit:

Capital Investment Grant program
State of good repair grants
Bus and bus facilities
Urbanized area formula grants
Rural area formula grants
Local Development:

CDBG
The legislation is endorsed by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Associated Equipment Distributors, Associated General Contractors of America, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the National League of Cities, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, the American Public Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the National Association of Development Organizations, and the National Association of Regional Councils.

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