Cornyn Announces New Democrat Support for Amendment to Allow Unspent COVID Relief Dollars for Infrastructure

WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today announced additional support from Senate Democrats 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.

The amendment is also led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and is now cosponsored by Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

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 certain programs would now be eligible for financing with COVID relief dollars, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STGB), rural area formula grants, the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, among others.

The legislation is endorsed by the United States Conference of Mayors, 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.