RECLAIM Act

This bill changes how the government handles federal funding when a group that gets that money breaks civil rights laws. If a violation is found, the funding cut would apply to the entire program or activity where the problem happened, not just a small part of it. It also says that if a court issues an order to stop the unlawful behavior (an injunction), all federal agencies must pause funding to that recipient until the court says they are back in compliance or for up to one year, whichever comes first; agencies must also alert each other and all stop funding during that time. The bill also adds a way for the government to recoup certain federal payments from recipients that violate the law, in line with its stated purpose to recover certain federal financial assistance.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Recipients of federal financial assistance for a program or activity.
• What changes: Funding cuts can cover the whole program or activity with the violation; after a court order, all federal funding is paused across agencies until compliance or up to one year; adds a process to recoup certain federal payments .
• When it applies: After a finding of noncompliance, and when a court issues an injunction in a related case.