From OFFICE OF U.S. REP. BOB LATTA
U.S. Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) sent a letter to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and Ranking Member Kevin Brady requesting their support to amend the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) program in order to extend the amount of time states and local governments have to use the funding to obtain products and services.
The CARES Act established the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) program to direct financial assistance to communities to make any expenditures that were necessary to combat COVID-19. Currently, funding can only be used for expenses that were incurred during the period between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020.
Ohio Congressmen Latta, Bob Gibbs (R-OH7), Warren Davidson (R-OH8), David Joyce (R-OH14), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH16) are requesting to extend the deadline to include expenses that were incurred during the period between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.
“After speaking with the Treasury Department, it is clear this restriction also applies to the delivery of products or the rendering of services,” the lawmakers wrote. “For example, if a township purchases an Emergency Medical Service vehicle with CRF assistance and that vehicle is not delivered until after December 30th, it would be deemed an illegal purchase. Due to the increase in demand for certain products, we are experiencing slower response times for private industry to process, manufacture, and deliver orders. We believe Congress should amend the CRF program to extend the amount of time states and local governments have to use the funding to obtain products and services to December 31, 2021. As the country continues to navigate the spread of COVID-19, we must build upon the work we accomplished together in the Spring in order to provide more flexibility to our local communities.”
To read the complete letter, click here.
