Stakeholders Back Cornyn Amendment to Allow Unspent COVID Relief Dollars for Infrastructure

Press Release

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today announced the endorsements of 24 national organizations for his 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.

"State and local transportation capital budgets were especially hard hit during the pandemic, as changes in travel patterns caused user-based revenue sources to dwindle. Many projects were delayed or canceled, however states and localities remain unsure as to whether the ARP funding can be used for highway and other surface transportation projects," they wrote. "The Cornyn-Padilla amendment #2155 to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) would amend the ARP to provide states and localities the flexibility to use the funds as Congress intended."

Background:

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

The legislation is endorsed by the:

American Road & Transportation Builders Association
National League of Cities
Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Public Transportation Association
Associated General Contractors of America
National Association of Development Organizations
Associated Equipment Distributors
American Subcontractors Association
American Highway Users Alliance
Government Finance Officers Association
Design-Build Institute of America
National Association of Surety Bond Producers
National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association
American Traffic Safety Services Association
American Public Works Association
American Concrete Pipe Association
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Institute of Makers of Explosives
National Association of County Engineers
American Concrete Pavement Association
American Foundry Society
National Association of Regional Councils
United States Conference of Mayors

Source