June 13, 2023

Wyden, Colleagues Urge the Biden Administration to Release Guidelines for Spending Unused COVID Relief Funds for Infrastructure, Disaster Relief

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues are urging top federal officials to speed up the release of guidance urgently needed by state and local governments on what pandemic relief expenses qualify are eligible for critical infrastructure and disaster relief projects in Oregon and nationwide before these funds expire.

“By leveraging these resources effectively, state and local governments can not only address the immediate impacts of the pandemic but also invest in longterm infrastructure improvements that will benefit communities for years to come,” Wyden and colleagues wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda D. Young.

The allocation of $350 billion from the State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds has supported state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments as they continue to recover from challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the letter, Wyden and colleagues urge the Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget to clarify the timeline for the release of comprehensive guidance communities need to get access to these unused funds before they expire. Timely guidance will enable local governments to plan and execute infrastructure projects, make informed financial decisions, and maximize the impact of these funds.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas. Alongside Wyden, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.

The full text of the letter is here.