H.R. 1319 (117^th): American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

to purchase food and agricultural commodities;

to purchase and distribute agricultural commodities (including fresh produce, dairy, seafood, eggs, and meat) to individuals in need, including through delivery to nonprofit organizations and through restaurants and other food related entities, as determined by the Secretary, that may receive, store, process, and distribute food items;

to make grants and loans for small or midsized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to COVID–19, including for measures to protect workers against COVID–19; and

to make loans and grants and provide other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.

COVID–19 animal surveillance

The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct monitoring and surveillance of susceptible animals for incidence of SARS–CoV–2.

Funding

Out of the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use $300,000,000 to carry out this subsection.

Small establishment; very small establishment definitions

The terms small establishment and very small establishment have the meaning given those terms in the final rule entitled Pathogen Reduction; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems published in the Federal Register on July 25, 1996 (61 Fed. Reg. 38806).

Overtime inspection cost reduction

Notwithstanding section 10703 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 2219a), the Act of June 5, 1948 (21 U.S.C. 695), section 25 of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 468), and section 24 of the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1053), and any regulations promulgated by the Department of Agriculture implementing such provisions of law and subject to the availability of funds under paragraph (3), the Secretary of Agriculture shall reduce the amount of overtime inspection costs borne by federally-inspected small establishments and very small establishments engaged in meat, poultry, or egg products processing and subject to the requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.), or the Egg Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 1031 et seq.), for inspection activities carried out during the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2030.

Funding

Out of the amounts made available under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use $100,000,000 to carry out this subsection.

increase capacity for vaccine distribution;

provide medical supplies to increase medical surge capacity;

reimburse for revenue lost during the COVID–19 pandemic, including revenue losses incurred prior to the awarding of the grant;

increase telehealth capabilities, including underlying health care information systems;

construct temporary or permanent structures to provide health care services, including vaccine administration or testing;

support staffing needs for vaccine administration or testing; and

engage in any other efforts to support rural development determined to be critical to address the COVID–19 pandemic, including nutritional assistance to vulnerable individuals, as approved by the Secretary.

Appropriation

In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2021, out of amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as may be necessary, to remain available until expended, for the cost of loan modifications and payments under this section.

Payments

The Secretary shall provide a payment in an amount up to 120 percent of the outstanding indebtedness of each socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as of January 1, 2021, to pay off the loan directly or to the socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (or a combination of both), on each—

Farm loan

The term farm loan means—

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

Socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher

The term socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher has the meaning given the term in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)).

using not less than 5 percent of the total amount of funding provided under subsection (a) to provide outreach, mediation, financial training, capacity building training, cooperative development training and support, and other technical assistance on issues concerning food, agriculture, agricultural credit, agricultural extension, rural development, or nutrition to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, or other members of socially disadvantaged groups;

using not less than 5 percent of the total amount of funding provided under subsection (a) to provide grants and loans to improve land access for socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners, including issues related to heirs’ property in a manner as determined by the Secretary;

using not less than 0.5 percent of the total amount of funding provided under subsection (a) to fund the activities of one or more equity commissions that will address racial equity issues within the Department of Agriculture and its programs;

using not less than 5 percent of the total amount of funding provided under subsection (a) to support and supplement agricultural research, education, and extension, as well as scholarships and programs that provide internships and pathways to Federal employment, by—

using not less than 5 percent of the total amount of funding provided under subsection (a) to provide financial assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, or forest landowners that are former farm loan borrowers that suffered related adverse actions or past discrimination or bias in Department of Agriculture programs, as determined by the Secretary.

Nonindustrial private forest land

The term nonindustrial private forest land has the meaning given the term in section 1201(a)(18) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3801(a)(18)).

Socially disadvantaged farmer, rancher, or forest landowner

The term socially disadvantaged farmer, rancher, or forest landowner means a farmer, rancher, or owner or operator of nonindustrial private forest land who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group.

Socially disadvantaged group

The term socially disadvantaged group has the meaning given the term in section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)).

$15,000,000 shall be for necessary expenses of the Secretary of Agriculture (in this section referred to as the Secretary) for management and oversight of the program; and

$1,135,000,000 shall be for the Secretary to make grants to each State agency for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023 as follows:

to make technological improvements to improve online purchasing in the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);

to modernize electronic benefit transfer technology;

to support the mobile technologies demonstration projects and the use of mobile technologies authorized under section 7(h)(14) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(14)); and

to provide technical assistance to educate retailers on the process and technical requirements for the online acceptance of the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits, for mobile payments, and for electronic benefit transfer modernization initiatives.

Applicable period

The term applicable period means a period—

Cash-value voucher

The term cash-value voucher has the meaning given the term in section 246.2 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act).

Program

The term program means the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786).

Qualified food package

The term qualified food package means each of the following food packages (as defined in section 246.10(e) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act)):

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

State agency

The term State agency has the meaning given the term in section 17(b) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)).

Notification

An increase to the amount of a cash-value voucher under subsection (b) shall apply to any State agency that notifies the Secretary of—

Use of increased amount

A State agency that makes a notification to the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall use the increased amount described in that paragraph—

have not attained the age of 25; and

are receiving assistance, including non-residential assistance, from such emergency shelter.

Emergency shelter

The term emergency shelter has the meaning given the term under section 17(t)(1) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1766(t)(1)).

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

Not less than $100,000,000 shall be for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, of which $10,000,000 shall be for Susan Harwood training grants and not less than $5,000,000 shall be for enforcement activities related to COVID–19 at high risk workplaces including health care, meat and poultry processing facilities, agricultural workplaces and correctional facilities.

$12,500,000 shall be for the Office of Inspector General.

COVID–19 public health emergency

The term COVID–19 public health emergency means the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19, including any renewal of the declaration.

Eligible child care provider

The term eligible child care provider means—

Reservation

A lead agency for a State that receives a child care stabilization grant pursuant to subsection (c) shall reserve not more than 10 percent of such grant funds to administer subgrants, provide technical assistance and support for applying for and accessing the subgrant opportunity, publicize the availability of the subgrants, carry out activities to increase the supply of child care, and provide technical assistance to help child care providers implement policies as described in paragraph (2)(D)(i).

Subgrants to qualified child care providers

In general

A qualified child care provider that receives funds through such a subgrant shall use the funds for at least one of the following:

Reimbursement

The qualified child care provider may use the subgrant funds to reimburse the provider for sums obligated or expended before the date of enactment of this Act for the cost of a good or service described in paragraph (1) to respond to the COVID–19 public health emergency.

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there is appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary), $49,500,000 for fiscal year 2021, to be available until expended, to carry out this subsection (excluding Federal administrative costs, for which funds are appropriated under subsection (e)).

Use of funds

From amounts appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary acting through the Director of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, shall—

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there is appropriated, out of any amounts in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the Secretary, $198,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to be available until expended, to carry out this subsection (excluding Federal administrative costs, for which funds are appropriated under subsection (e)).

Use of funds

From amounts appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary acting through the Director of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, shall assist rape crisis centers in transitioning to virtual services and meeting the emergency needs of survivors.

Americorps State and National

$620,000,000 shall be used—

State commissions

$20,000,000 shall be used to make adjustments to existing (as of the date of enactment of this Act) awards and new and additional awards, including awards to State Commissions on National and Community Service, under section 126(a) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12576(a)).

Volunteer generation fund

$20,000,000 shall be used for expenses authorized under section 501(a)(4)(F) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12681(a)(4)(F)), which, notwithstanding section 198P(d)(1)(B) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 12653p(d)(1)(B)), shall be for grants awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service on a competitive basis.

Americorps Vista

$80,000,000 shall be used for the purposes described in section 101 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4951), including to increase the living allowances of volunteers, described in section 105(b) of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4955(b)).

National senior service corps

$30,000,000 shall be used for the purposes described in section 200 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5000).

Administrative costs

$73,000,000 shall be used for the Corporation for National and Community Service for administrative expenses to carry out programs and activities funded by subsection (a).

Office of Inspector General

$9,000,000 shall be used for the Office of Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service for salaries and expenses necessary for oversight and audit of programs and activities funded by subsection (a).

conduct activities to enhance, expand, and improve nationwide COVID–19 vaccine distribution and administration, including activities related to distribution of ancillary medical products and supplies related to vaccines; and

provide technical assistance, guidance, and support to, and award grants or cooperative agreements to, State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health departments for enhancement of COVID–19 vaccine distribution and administration capabilities, including—

Definitions

In this subsection:

Supplemental funding

implement a national, evidence-based strategy for testing, contact tracing, surveillance, and mitigation with respect to SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, including through activities authorized under section 319(a) of the Public Health Service Act;

provide technical assistance, guidance, and support, and award grants or cooperative agreements to State, local, and territorial public health departments for activities to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19 infections and related strategies and activities to mitigate the spread of COVID–19;

support the development, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, and administration of tests to detect or diagnose SARS–CoV–2 and COVID–19, including through—

establish and expand Federal, State, local, and territorial testing and contact tracing capabilities, including—

enhance information technology, data modernization, and reporting, including improvements necessary to support sharing of data related to public health capabilities;

award grants to, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with, State, local, and territorial public health departments to establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce; and

to cover administrative and program support costs necessary to conduct activities related to subparagraph (a).

conduct, expand, and improve activities to sequence genomes, identify mutations, and survey the circulation and transmission of viruses and other organisms, including strains of SARS–CoV–2;

award grants or cooperative agreements to State, local, Tribal, or territorial public health departments or public health laboratories—

enhance and expand the informatics capabilities of the public health workforce; and

award grants for the construction, alteration, or renovation of facilities to improve genomic sequencing and surveillance capabilities at the State and local level.

Costs, including wages and benefits, related to the recruiting, hiring, and training of individuals—

Personal protective equipment, data management and other technology, or other necessary supplies.

Administrative costs and activities necessary for awardees to implement activities funded under this section.

Subawards from recipients of awards under subsection (a) to local health departments for the purposes of the activities funded under this section.

to plan, prepare for, promote, distribute, administer, and track COVID–19 vaccines, and to carry out other vaccine-related activities;

to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor COVID–19 infections and related activities necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID–19, including activities related to, and equipment or supplies purchased for, testing, contact tracing, surveillance, mitigation, and treatment of COVID–19;

to purchase equipment and supplies to conduct mobile testing or vaccinations for COVID–19, to purchase and maintain mobile vehicles and equipment to conduct such testing or vaccinations, and to hire and train laboratory personnel and other staff to conduct such mobile testing or vaccinations, particularly in medically underserved areas;

to establish, expand, and sustain the health care workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID–19, and to carry out other health workforce-related activities;

to modify, enhance, and expand health care services and infrastructure; and

to conduct community outreach and education activities related to COVID–19.

In general

Of the amount made available pursuant to subsection (a), $100,000,000 shall be made available for providing primary health services through grants to States under section 338I(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254q–1(a)).

Conditions

With respect to grants described in paragraph (1) using funds made available under such paragraph:

For making payments to establish new approved graduate medical residency training programs pursuant to section 340H(a)(1)(C) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h(a)(1)(C)).

To provide an increase to the per resident amount described in section 340H(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h(a)(2)) of $10,000.

For making payments under section 340H(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h(a)(1)(A))) to qualified teaching health centers for maintenance of filled positions at existing approved graduate medical residency training programs.

For making payments under section 340H(a)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h(a)(1)(B)) for the expansion of existing approved graduate medical residency training programs.

For making awards under section 749A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293l–1) to teaching health centers for the purpose of establishing new accredited or expanded primary care residency programs.

To cover administrative costs and activities necessary for qualified teaching health centers receiving payments under section 340H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256h) to carry out activities under such section.

encourage primary prevention of mental health conditions and substance use disorders and secondary and tertiary prevention by encouraging health care professionals to seek support and treatment for their own mental health and substance use concerns; and

help such professionals to identify risk factors in themselves and others and respond to such risks.

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award grants to support States; local, Tribal, and territorial governments; Tribal organizations; nonprofit community-based organizations; and primary and behavioral health organizations to support community-based overdose prevention programs, syringe services programs, and other harm reduction services.

Use of grant funds

Grant funds awarded under this section to eligible entities shall be used for preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases and the consequences of such diseases for individuals with substance use disorder, distributing opioid overdose reversal medication to individuals at risk of overdose, connecting individuals at risk for, or with, a substance use disorder to overdose education, counseling, and health education, and encouraging such individuals to take steps to reduce the negative personal and public health impacts of substance use or misuse.

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall award grants to State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, Tribal organizations, nonprofit community-based entities, and primary care and behavioral health organizations to address increased community behavioral health needs worsened by the COVID–19 public health emergency.

Use of grant funds

Grant funds awarded under this section to eligible entities shall be used for promoting care coordination among local entities; training the mental and behavioral health workforce, relevant stakeholders, and community members; expanding evidence-based integrated models of care; addressing surge capacity for mental and behavioral health needs; providing mental and behavioral health services to individuals with mental health needs (including co-occurring substance use disorders) as delivered by behavioral and mental health professionals utilizing telehealth services; and supporting, enhancing, or expanding mental and behavioral health preventive and crisis intervention services.

in the first sentence—

in the fourth sentence, by striking March 14, 2021 and inserting September 6, 2021.

in clause (i)—

in clause (ii)—

in clause (iii)—

in clause (v), by adding at the end the following: In addition to the amount appropriated by the preceding two sentences, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $2,000,000 to cover the cost of additional extended unemployment benefits provided under this subparagraph, to remain available until expended..

allot amounts appropriated in this section to a State or Indian Tribe based on—

reserve up to 3 percent of the amount appropriated in this section for Indian Tribes and tribal organizations.

$750,000,000 shall be available to carry out part C of title III of such Act.

$25,000,000 shall be available to carry out title VI of such Act, including part C of such title.

$460,000,000 shall be available to carry out part B of title III of such Act, including for—

$44,000,000 shall be available to carry out part D of title III of such Act.

$145,000,000 shall be available to carry out part E of title III of such Act.

$10,000,000 shall be available to carry out the long-term care ombudsman program under title VII of such Act.

engage experts to stimulate the development of new and identify existing evidence-based, evidence-informed, and exemplary practices or programs related to health promotion (including mental health and substance use disorder treatment), education, nutrition, housing, financial needs, legal issues, disability self-determination, caregiver support, and other issues to help serve caregivers, children, and their parents in grandfamilies and kinship families;

encourage and support the implementation of the evidence-based, evidence-informed, and exemplary practices or programs identified under paragraph (1) to support grandfamilies and kinship families and to promote coordination of services for grandfamilies and kinship families across systems that support them;

facilitate learning across States, territories, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations for providing technical assistance, resources, and training related to issues described in paragraph (1) to individuals and entities across systems that directly work with grandfamilies and kinship families;

help government programs, nonprofit and other community-based organizations, and Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, serving grandfamilies and kinship families, to plan and coordinate responses to assist grandfamilies and kinship families during national, State, Tribal, territorial, and local emergencies and disasters; and

assist government programs, and nonprofit and other community-based organizations, in promoting equity and implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches as the programs and organizations serve grandfamilies and kinship families.

Testing, PPE, vaccines, and other materials

Except as provided in paragraph (2), amounts appropriated in subsection (a) shall be used for the purchase, production (including the construction, repair, and retrofitting of government-owned or private facilities as necessary), or distribution of medical supplies and equipment (including durable medical equipment) related to combating the COVID–19 pandemic, including—

Responding to public health emergencies

After September 30, 2022, amounts appropriated in subsection (a) may be used for any activity authorized by paragraph (1), or any other activity necessary to meet critical public health needs of the United States, with respect to any pathogen that the President has determined has the potential for creating a public health emergency.

Appropriation

In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $21,550,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2027, for making payments to eligible grantees under this section—

Reservation of funds

Of the amount appropriated under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reserve—

Allocation for States and units of local government

Allocations for territories

The amount reserved under subsection (a)(2)(A) shall be allocated to eligible grantees described in subsection (f)(1)(C) in the same manner as the amount appropriated under section 501(a)(2)(A) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) is allocated under section 501(b)(3) of such subtitle A to eligible grantees described under subparagraph (C) of such section 501(b)(3), except that section 501(b)(3) of such subtitle A shall be applied—

High-need grantees

The Secretary shall allocate funds reserved under subsection (a)(2)(D) to eligible grantees with a high need for assistance under this section, with the number of very low-income renter households paying more than 50 percent of income on rent or living in substandard or overcrowded conditions, rental market costs, and change in employment since February 2020 used as the factors for allocating funds.

In general

The Secretary shall pay all eligible grantees not less than 40 percent of each such eligible grantee’s total allocation provided under subsection (b) within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

Subsequent payments

The Secretary shall pay to eligible grantees additional amounts in tranches up to the full amount of each such eligible grantee’s total allocation in accordance with a procedure established by the Secretary, provided that any such procedure established by the Secretary shall require that an eligible grantee must have obligated not less than 75 percent of the funds already disbursed by the Secretary pursuant to this section prior to disbursement of additional amounts.

In general

An eligible grantee shall only use the funds provided from payments made under this section as follows:

Distribution of assistance

Amounts appropriated under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be subject to the same terms and conditions that apply under paragraph (4) of section 501(c) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) to amounts appropriated under subsection (a)(1) of such section 501.

In general

Beginning March 31, 2022, the Secretary shall reallocate funds allocated to eligible grantees in accordance with subsection (b) but not yet paid in accordance with subsection (c)(2) according to a procedure established by the Secretary.

Eligibility for reallocated funds

The Secretary shall require an eligible grantee to have obligated 50 percent of the total amount of funds allocated to such eligible grantee under subsection (b) to be eligible to receive funds reallocated under paragraph (1) of this subsection.

Payment of reallocated funds by the Secretary

The Secretary shall pay to each eligible grantee eligible for a payment of reallocated funds described in paragraph (2) of this subsection the amount allocated to such eligible grantee in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection.

Use of reallocated funds

Eligible grantees may use any funds received in accordance with this subsection only for purposes specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (d).

Eligible grantee

The term eligible grantee means any of the following:

Eligible household

The term eligible household means a household of 1 or more individuals who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and with respect to which the eligible grantee involved determines that—

Inspector general

The term Inspector General means the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury.

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.

Unit of local government

The term unit of local government has the meaning given such term in section 501 of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260).

incremental emergency vouchers under subsection (b);

renewals of the vouchers under subsection (b);

fees for the costs of administering vouchers under subsection (b) and other eligible expenses defined by notice to prevent, prepare, and respond to coronavirus to facilitate the leasing of the emergency vouchers, such as security deposit assistance and other costs related to retention and support of participating owners; and

adjustments in the calendar year 2021 section 8 renewal funding allocation, including mainstream vouchers, for public housing agencies that experience a significant increase in voucher per-unit costs due to extraordinary circumstances or that, despite taking reasonable cost savings measures, would otherwise be required to terminate rental assistance for families as a result of insufficient funding.

In general

The Secretary shall provide emergency rental assistance vouchers under subsection (a), which shall be tenant-based rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).

Qualifying individuals or families defined

For the purposes of this section, qualifying individuals or families are those who are—

Allocation

The Secretary shall notify public housing agencies of the number of emergency vouchers provided under this section to be allocated to the agency not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, in accordance with a formula that includes public housing agency capacity and ensures geographic diversity, including with respect to rural areas, among public housing agencies administering the Housing Choice Voucher program.

Terms and conditions

Waivers and alternative requirements

The Secretary may waive or specify alternative requirements for any provision of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) or regulation applicable to such statute other than requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment, upon a finding that the waiver or alternative requirement is necessary to expedite or facilitate the use of amounts made available in this section.

Termination of vouchers upon turnover

After September 30, 2023, a public housing agency may not reissue any vouchers made available under this section when assistance for the family assisted ends.

target housing counseling services to minority and low-income populations facing housing instability; or

provide housing counseling services in neighborhoods having high concentrations of minority and low-income populations.

housing counseling provided directly to households facing housing instability, such as eviction, default, foreclosure, loss of income, or homelessness;

education, outreach, training, technology upgrades, and other program related support; and

operational oversight funding for grantees and subgrantees that receive funds under this section.

Tenant-based rental assistance.

The development and support of affordable housing pursuant to section 212(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)) (“the Act” herein).

Supportive services to qualifying individuals or families not already receiving such supportive services, including—

The acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter units, all or a portion of which may—

homeless, as defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a));

at-risk of homelessness, as defined in section 401(1) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360(1));

fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, as defined by the Secretary;

in other populations where providing supportive services or assistance under section 212(a) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)) would prevent the family’s homelessness or would serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability; or

veterans and families that include a veteran family member that meet one of the preceding criteria.

Funding restrictions

The cost limits in section 212(e) (42 U.S.C. 12742(e)), the commitment requirements in section 218(g) (42 U.S.C. 12748(g)), the matching requirements in section 220 (42 U.S.C. 12750), and the set-aside for housing developed, sponsored, or owned by community housing development organizations required in section 231 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 12771) shall not apply for amounts made available in this section.

Administrative costs

Notwithstanding sections 212(c) and (d)(1) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(c) and (d)(1)), of the funds made available in this section for carrying out activities authorized in this section, a grantee may use up to fifteen percent of its allocation for administrative and planning costs.

Operating expenses

Notwithstanding sections 212(a) and (g) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a) and (g)), a grantee may use up to an additional five percent of its allocation for the payment of operating expenses of community housing development organizations and nonprofit organizations carrying out activities authorized under this section, but only if—

Contracting

A grantee, when contracting with service providers engaged directly in the provision of services under paragraph (a)(3), shall, to the extent practicable, enter into contracts in amounts that cover the actual total program costs and administrative overhead to provide the services contracted.

Formula assistance

Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall allocate amounts made available under this section pursuant to section 217 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 12747) to grantees that received allocations pursuant to that same formula in fiscal year 2021, and shall make such allocations within 30 days of enactment of this Act.

Technical assistance

Up to $25,000,000 of the amounts made available under this section shall be used, without competition, to make new awards or increase prior awards to existing technical assistance providers to provide an immediate increase in capacity building and technical assistance available to any grantees implementing activities or projects consistent with this section.

Other costs

Up to $50,000,000 of the amounts made available under this section shall be used for the administrative costs to oversee and administer implementation of this section and the HOME program generally, including information technology, financial reporting, and other costs.

Waivers or alternative requirements

The Secretary may waive or specify alternative requirements for any provision of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.) and titles I and IV of the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq., 11360 et seq.) or regulation for the administration of the amounts made available under this section other than requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment, upon a finding that the waiver or alternative requirement is necessary to expedite or facilitate the use of amounts made available under this section.

Conforming loan limit

The term conforming loan limit means the applicable limitation governing the maximum original principal obligation of a mortgage secured by a single-family residence, a mortgage secured by a 2-family residence, a mortgage secured by a 3-family residence, or a mortgage secured by a 4-family residence, as determined and adjusted annually under section 302(b)(2) of the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act (12 U.S.C. 1717(b)(2)) and section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)).

Dwelling

The term dwelling means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more individuals.

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—

Mortgage

The term mortgage means any credit transaction—

Fund

The term Fund means the Homeowner Assistance Fund established under subsection (c).

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.

State

The term State means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Establishment; qualified expenses

There is established in the Department of the Treasury a Homeowner Assistance Fund to mitigate financial hardships associated with the coronavirus pandemic by providing such funds as are appropriated by subsection (a) to eligible entities for the purpose of preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020, through qualified expenses related to mortgages and housing, which include—

Targeting

Not less than 60 percent of amounts made to each eligible entity allocated amounts under subsection (d) or (f) shall be used for qualified expenses that assist homeowners having incomes equal to or less than 100 percent of the area median income for their household size or equal to or less than 100 percent of the median income for the United States, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, whichever is greater. The eligible entity shall prioritize remaining funds to socially disadvantaged individuals.

Administration

Of any amounts made available under this section, the Secretary shall reserve—

For States

After the application of paragraphs (1), (4), and (5) of this subsection and subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Secretary shall allocate the remaining funds available within the Homeowner Assistance Fund to each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico based on homeowner need, for such State relative to all States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, which is determined by reference to—

Small State minimum

Territory set-aside

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall reserve $30,000,000 to be disbursed to Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands based on each such territory’s share of the combined total population of all such territories, as determined by the Secretary. For the purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined based on the most recent year for which data are available from the United States Census Bureau.

Tribal set-aside

The Secretary shall allocate funds to any eligible entity designated under subsection (f) pursuant to the requirements of that subsection.

In General

The Secretary shall make payments, beginning not later than 45 days after enactment of this Act, from amounts allocated under subsection (d) to eligible entities that have notified the Secretary that they request to receive payment from the Fund and that the eligible entity will use such payments in compliance with this section.

Reallocation

If a State does not request allocated funds by the 45th day after the date of enactment of this Act, such State shall not be eligible for a payment from the Secretary pursuant to this section, and the Secretary shall, by the 180th day after the date of enactment of this Act, reallocate any funds that were not requested by such State among the States that have requested funds by the 45th day after the date of enactment of this Act. For any such reallocation of funds, the Secretary shall adhere to the requirements of subsection (d), except for paragraph (1), to the greatest extent possible, provided that the Secretary shall also take into consideration in determining such reallocation a State’s remaining need and a State’s record of using payments from the Fund to serve homeowners at disproportionate risk of mortgage default, foreclosure, or displacement, including homeowners having incomes equal to or less than 100 percent of the area median income for their household size or 100 percent of the median income for the United States, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, whichever is greater, and minority homeowners.

Set-aside

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, of the amounts appropriated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use 5 percent to make payments to entities that are eligible for payments under clauses (i) and (ii) of section 501(b)(2)(A) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) for the purposes described in subsection (c).

Allocation and payment

The Secretary shall allocate the funds set aside under paragraph (1) using the allocation formulas described in clauses (i) and (ii) of section 501(b)(2)(A) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260), and shall make payments of such amounts beginning no later than 45 days after enactment of this Act to entities eligible for payment under clauses (i) and (ii) of section 501(b)(2)(A) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260) that notify the Secretary that they request to receive payments allocated from the Fund by the Secretary for purposes described under subsection (c) and will use such payments in compliance with this section.

Adjustment

Allocations provided under this subsection may be further adjusted as provided by section 501(b)(2)(B) of subtitle A of title V of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260).

In general

The State Small Business Credit Initiative Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.) is amended—

Appropriation

in subparagraph (C), by striking and at the end;

in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

by adding at the end the following:

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise made available, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $30,461,355,534, to remain available until September 30, 2024, that shall—

Availability of funds for operating expenses

Urbanized area formula grants

Formula grants for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities

Formula grants for rural areas

Capital investments

Section 5311(f) services

Planning

Recipients and subrecipients requiring additional assistance

restore, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the frequency of rail service on long-distance routes (as defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code) that the National Railroad Passenger Corporation reduced the frequency of on or after July 1, 2020, and continue to operate such service at such frequency; and

recall and manage employees furloughed on or after October 1, 2020, as a result of efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

shall be for use by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation in lieu of capital payments from States and commuter rail passenger transportation providers that are subject to the cost allocation policy under section 24905(c) of title 49, United States Code; and

notwithstanding sections 24319(g) and 24905(c)(1)(A)(i) of title 49, United States Code, such amounts do not constitute cross-subsidization of commuter rail passenger transportation.

In general

Of the amounts made available under subsection (b), $174,850,000 shall be for use by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to offset amounts required to be paid by States for covered State-supported routes.

Funding share

The share of funding provided under paragraph (1) with respect to a covered State-supported route shall be distributed as follows:

Covered State-supported route defined

In this subsection, the term covered State-supported route means a State-supported route, as such term is defined in section 24102 of title 49, United States Code, but does not include a State-supported route for which service was terminated on or before February 1, 2020.

for the repayment or prepayment of debt incurred by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation under financing arrangements entered into prior to the date of enactment of this Act; and

to pay required reserves, costs, and fees related to such debt, including for loans from the Department of Transportation and loans that would otherwise have been paid from National Railroad Passenger Corporation revenues.

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated for fiscal year 2021, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $8,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024, for assistance to sponsors of airports, as such terms are defined in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code, to be made available to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

Requirements and limitations

Amounts made available under this section—

Operating expenses and debt service payments

Federal share for development projects

Nonprimary airports

Airport concessions

Administrative expenses

The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may retain up to 0.1 percent of the funds provided under this section to fund the award of, and oversight by the Administrator of, grants made under this section.

Workforce retention requirements

Eligible large airport concession

The term eligible large airport concession means a concession (as defined in section 23.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), that is in-terminal and has maximum gross receipts, averaged over the previous three fiscal years, of more than $56,420,000.

Eligible small airport concession

The term eligible small airport concession means a concession (as defined in section 23.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), that is in-terminal and—

is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19;

has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19;

is caring for an individual who is subject to such an order or has been so advised;

is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;

is caring for a son or daughter of such employee if the school or place of care of the son or daughter has been closed, if the school of such son or daughter requires or makes optional a virtual learning instruction model or requires or makes optional a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning instruction models, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID–19 precautions;

is experiencing any other substantially similar condition;

is caring for a family member with a mental or physical disability or who is 55 years of age or older and incapable of self-care, without regard to whether another individual other than the employee is available to care for such family member, if the place of care for such family member is closed or the direct care provider is unavailable due to COVID–19; or

is obtaining immunization related to COVID–19 or is recovering from any injury, disability, illness, or condition related to such immunization.

Period of availability

Paid leave under this section may only be provided to and used by an employee of the Administration during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this section and ending on September 30, 2021.

Total hours; amount

Paid leave under this section—

Relationship to other leave

Paid leave under this section—

Calculation of retirement benefit

Any paid leave provided to an employee of the Administration under this section shall reduce the total service used to calculate any Federal civilian retirement benefit.

is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19;

has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19;

is caring for an individual who is subject to such an order or has been so advised;

is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;

is caring for a son or daughter of such employee if the school or place of care of the son or daughter has been closed, if the school of such son or daughter requires or makes optional a virtual learning instruction model or requires or makes optional a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning instruction models, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID–19 precautions;

is experiencing any other substantially similar condition;

is caring for a family member with a mental or physical disability or who is 55 years of age or older and incapable of self-care, without regard to whether another individual other than the employee is available to care for such family member, if the place of care for such family member is closed or the direct care provider is unavailable due to COVID–19; or

is obtaining immunization related to COVID–19 or is recovering from any injury, disability, illness, or condition related to such immunization.

Period of availability

Paid leave under this section may only be provided to and used by an employee of the Administration during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this section and ending on September 30, 2021.

Total hours; amount

Paid leave under this section—

Relationship to other leave

Paid leave under this section—

Calculation of retirement benefit

Any paid leave provided to an employee of the Administration under this section shall reduce the total service used to calculate any Federal civilian retirement benefit.

the term catering functions means preparation, assembly, or both, of food, beverages, provisions and related supplies for delivery, and the delivery of such items, directly to aircraft or to a location on or near airport property for subsequent delivery to aircraft;

the term contractor means—

the term employee means an individual, other than a corporate officer, who is employed by an air carrier or a contractor;

the term eligible air carrier means an air carrier that—

the term eligible contractor means a contractor that—

the term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.

In general

The Secretary shall make available to eligible air carriers and eligible contractors, financial assistance exclusively for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and benefits to—

Apportionments

In general

Taxpayer protection

The Secretary shall receive financial instruments issued by recipients of financial assistance under this section in the same form and amount, and under the same terms and conditions, as determined by the Secretary under section 408 of subtitle A of title IV of division N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. No. 116–260).

Administrative expenses

Of the amounts made available under paragraph (1)(A), $10,000,000 shall be made available to the Secretary for costs and administrative expenses associated with providing financial assistance under this section.

carry out the requirements in title XX of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260);

enhance targeting, surveillance, and screening of consumer products, particularly COVID–19 products, entering the United States at ports of entry, including ports of entry for de minimis shipments;

enhance monitoring of internet websites for the offering for sale of new and used violative consumer products, particularly COVID–19 products, and coordination with retail and resale websites to improve identification and elimination of listings of such products;

increase awareness and communication particularly of COVID–19 product related risks and other consumer product safety information; and

improve the Commission’s data collection and analysis system especially with a focus on consumer product safety risks resulting from the COVID–19 pandemic to socially disadvantaged individuals and other vulnerable populations.

the term Commission means the Consumer Product Safety Commission;

the term violative consumer products means consumer products in violation of an applicable consumer product safety standard under the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.) or any similar rule, regulation, standard, or ban under any other Act enforced by the Commission;

the term COVID–19 emergency period means the period during which a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) with respect to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID–19), including under any renewal of such declaration, is in effect; and

the term COVID–19 products means consumer products, as defined by section 3(a)(5) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2052(a)(5)), whose risks have been significantly affected by COVID–19 or whose sales have materially increased during the COVID–19 emergency period as a result of the COVID–19 pandemic.

in the case of a school, students and staff of the school at locations that include locations other than the school; and

in the case of a library, patrons of the library at locations that include locations other than the library.

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Emergency Connectivity Fund.

Appropriation

In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Emergency Connectivity Fund for fiscal year 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated—

Limitation

Not more than 2 percent of the amount made available under paragraph (2)(A) may be used for the purposes described in clause (ii) of such paragraph.

Relationship to universal service contributions

Support provided under the covered regulations shall be provided from amounts made available from the Emergency Connectivity Fund and not from contributions under section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(d)).

Advanced telecommunications and information services

The term advanced telecommunications and information services means advanced telecommunications and information services, as such term is used in section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)).

Commission

The term Commission means the Federal Communications Commission.

Connected device

The term connected device means a laptop computer, tablet computer, or similar end-user device that is capable of connecting to advanced telecommunications and information services.

Covered regulations

The term covered regulations means the regulations promulgated under subsection (a).

COVID–19 emergency period

The term COVID–19 emergency period means a period that—

Eligible equipment

The term eligible equipment means the following:

Eligible school or library

The term eligible school or library means an elementary school, secondary school, or library (including a Tribal elementary school, Tribal secondary school, or Tribal library) eligible for support under paragraphs (1)(B) and (2) of section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)).

Emergency Connectivity Fund

The term Emergency Connectivity Fund means the fund established under subsection (c)(1).

Library

The term library includes a library consortium.

Wi-fi

The term Wi-Fi means a wireless networking protocol based on Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard 802.11 (or any successor standard).

Wi-fi hotspot

The term Wi-Fi hotspot means a device that is capable of—

$4,400,000 to process and monitor consumer complaints received into the Consumer Sentinel Network, including increased complaints received regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to COVID–19;

$2,000,000 for consumer-related education, including in connection with unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to COVID–19; and

$24,000,000 to fund full-time employees of the Federal Trade Commission to address unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including those related to COVID–19.

Provision of premium assistance

Limitation of period of premium assistance

Assistance eligible individual

For purposes of this section, the term assistance eligible individual means, with respect to a period of coverage during the period beginning on the first day of the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, and ending on September 30, 2021, any individual that is a qualified beneficiary who—

Extension of election period and effect on coverage

Notices to individuals

Notice of expiration of period of premium assistance

Regulations

The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor may jointly prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this subsection, including the prevention of fraud and abuse under this subsection, except that the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services may prescribe such regulations (including interim final regulations) or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of paragraphs (5), (6), and (8).

Outreach

Definitions

For purposes of this section:

Implementation funding

In addition to amounts otherwise made available, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary of Labor for fiscal year 2021, $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the Employee Benefits Security Administration to carry out the provisions of this subtitle.

Allowance of credit

Penalty for failure to notify health plan of cessation of eligibility for premium assistance

Coordination with HCTC

Exclusion of continuation coverage premium assistance from gross income