Sponsor
Aaron Bean
Representative · R-FL
Representative · R-FL
The bill reclaims unused emergency-era federal balances to reduce federal outlays and limit future spending growth, but does so at the risk of shifting costs and creating funding shortfalls for state/local transportation, education, and public‑health needs.
Taxpayers and the federal budget benefit because unobligated COVID‑19 and certain infrastructure balances would be reclaimed, lowering federal outlays and reducing long‑term pressure on deficit spending.
Federal budget stewardship and accountability are improved because returning unused emergency-era appropriations reduces perceived waste and limits future spending growth tied to those programs.
State and local governments, and ultimately local taxpayers, could face higher costs or service cuts because rescissions shift costs that had been expected to be federally reimbursed.
State and local transportation agencies, transportation workers, and commuters could experience project delays or cancellations because CMAQ, Carbon Reduction, or PROTECT unobligated balances would be reduced.
Schools, colleges, and students could lose available Education Stabilization Fund balances that were intended for pandemic recovery and support, reducing resources for learning and recovery programs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Rescinds unobligated balances from specified COVID‑19 relief statutes and from the Education Stabilization Fund and three highway programs, up to an aggregate cap tied to 2024 supplementals.
Official title: To rescind unobligated COVID-19 relief funds and certain infrastructure funds to offset the cost of the supplemental foreign assistance made available for fiscal year 2024, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Aaron Bean · Last progress February 27, 2025
Rescinds unspent balances from a set of previously enacted COVID‑19 relief laws and cancels unobligated amounts in four specified infrastructure‑related programs, up to a set aggregate limit tied to 2024 supplemental appropriations. It defines which statutes count as “COVID‑19 relief funds” and identifies the specific education and highway programs whose unobligated balances may be rescinded.