WASHINGTON –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.