The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic relief package, was signed by President Joe Biden on March 11. Much of the funding included will have impacts on states, both in their budgets and in the specific policies they enact. The Council of State Governments (CSG) is providing our members with ongoing analyses of the various components of the ARP in this special edition series of The Current State e-newsletter, out each Monday.
This week, The Council of State Governments provides resources on how states can utilize American Rescue Plan Act funds to support rural communities and for election security/civics education. This special edition of The Current State weekly e-newsletter also includes news, updates and resources related to states ending expanded unemployment benefits, infrastructure efforts and the Emergency Connectivity Fund.
NEW THIS WEEK
Treasury Guidance on ARP Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds
CSG researchers have put together an analysis on Treasury Guidance, which specifies how states can use the American Rescue Plan funds.
The CSG Justice Center is hosting a webinar on June 15 focused on ARP funds and mental health. Local crisis systems can use ARP funding to help improve access to community-based care and reduce hospitalizations, arrests and incarceration for people with behavioral health needs. This webinar will provide policy options for state leaders to consider using ARP funding to help reduce those negative outcomes for people with behavioral health needs.
NEWS, UPDATES AND RESOURCES
The U.S. Department of the Treasury releases new guidance on eligible uses of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund On June 8, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released an updated FAQ document that provides additional guidance on eligible uses of funds and reporting requirements for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. Questions 7.4-7.15 of the FAQs for Non-Entitlement Distribution of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds also have been updated to provide further clarification on distribution requirements.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General releases semiannual report to CongressThe U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General has released its semiannual report to Congress. Program oversight outlined in this report includes the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
President Biden ends infrastructure talks with Senate RepublicansLast Tuesday, President Biden turned down the most recent proposed infrastructure bill from Senate Republicans. In a statement released by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Biden informed Sen. Shelly Moore Capito that the proposal did not meet “the essential needs of our country to restore roads and bridges [and] prepare us for a clean energy future.” Capito confirmed these statements, adding that the president was willing to accept the $1 trillion plan, but issues over funding prevented the two sides from agreeing.
The Congressional Research Service publishes report on federal emergency and disaster declarations for the COVID-19 pandemic The Congressional Research Service published a summary of the four national provisions and emergency declarations. This report includes information on the duration and requirements for the Small Business Disaster Loan Program.
The Congressional Research Service updates resources for tracking federal COVID-19 spending This updated report from the Congressional Research Service provides an outline of available grants and funding offered through national COVID relief efforts, including the American Rescue Plan and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security (CARES) Act. This report is released as an extension of the national spending tracking site, which now includes advanced search options and reconfigured tracking.
The U.S. Department of Education releases COVID-19 Handbook Volume 3 The U.S. Department of Education has released the third volume of their COVID-19 handbook. This edition emphasizes resources available to higher education institutions as they implement COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services publishes guidance on American Rescue Plan revisions The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services has published updated guidance on provisions related to Medicare and Medicaid in the American Rescue Plan. ARP requires that state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits cover COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and treatments. ARP also requires that Medicaid and CHIP cover the treatment of diseases that may complicate the treatment of COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases FAQs on ARP genomic funding The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its updated Frequently Asked Questions document regarding the use of American Rescue Plan funds for genomic sequencing and testing. The report outlines specific budgeting requirements and allowable costs for supplies, equipment and enhanced sequencing activities.
The Office of Administration for Children and Families releases Low Income Household Water Assistance allocations The Office of Administration for Children and Families released state allocations for the Low Income Household Water Assistance program under P.L. 116-260 and the ARP. Grantees will immediately have access to $166.6 million of $1.1 billion in low-income assistance. All funds must be obligated by Sept. 23, 2023.
The Office of Administration for Children and Families update CCDF FAQsThe Office of Administration for Children and Families has updated its Frequently Asked Questions document regarding the Child Care and Development Fund to clarify uses for supplemental discretionary funds from the ARP. These funds may be used to assist parents and child care providers in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) creates Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security (CARES) Act Community Development toolkit The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has compiled information related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security (CARES) Act Community Development Block Grant program in a comprehensive toolkit. The CARES Act made $5 billion in community block grants available to “prevent, prepare, and respond” to COVID-19 and related expenses. HUD has included relevant training resources and question portals in this toolkit.
Food and Nutrition Services posts memo on priority areas of service for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) posted a memo covering state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach activities. FNS asks states to develop a plan that targets outreach in four resources areas: racial equity, students, immigrant communities and mixed status families, and veterans. FNS also has provided an outreach guidance plan to assist with development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announces the addition of 15 stores to the online Food and Nutrition Service’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program online purchasing pilotFifteen new stores in Illinois, Oklahoma and Tennessee will be joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s pilot online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program purchasing portal in the coming months. The full list of participating stores can be found here.
The U.S. Department of Labor publishes audit of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security (CARES) Act unemployment insurance implementation The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an audit examining state implementation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security (CARES) Act funding and unemployment insurance (UI) benefits under DOL guidance. The audit found that overall, states have struggled to implement UI benefit programs, with an estimated $39.2 billion in improper payments as of Jan. 2, 2021. This report includes recommendations for states and steps being taken by DOL to improve guidance.
The U.S. Department of Labor provides further guidance regarding state receipt requirements for emergency unemployment insurance grantsThe U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has provided additional guidance on the state receipt requirements for emergency unemployment insurance administration grants under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. DOL requests that states provide information on state compliance to the department using the form linked in the report.
U.S. House of Representatives committee releases 5-year Surface Transportation Reauthorization BillThe U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has released the full text of the five-year $547 billion INVEST in America Act. This bill would provide $343 billion for roads and bridges, $109 billion for transit and $95 billion for passenger and freight rail. The full text can be found here, along with a fact sheet and section-by-section summary of allocations.
The Federal Transit Administration posts Frequently Asked Questions document on COVID-19 response program information collection The Federal Transit Administration announced that it will be collecting information from receipts of transit funding regarding the impact of the pandemic on transit industry. This updated Frequently Asked Questions document includes instructions on applications for reporting and relevant information to include in state reports. State departments of transportation and agencies that received Section 5307 or 5311 (c) funds are required to report.