On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the âActâ). Division N, Title V, Section 501(a)(1) of the Act provides $25 billion for the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to make payments to States (defined to include the District of Columbia), U.S. Territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), Indian tribes or tribally designated housing entities, as applicable, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and certain local governments with more than 200,000 residents (collectively the âeligible granteesâ) to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to eligible households.
Section 501(c) requires the eligible grantees to use the funds to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to eligible households. Section 501(b)(1)(A) provides that not later than 30 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall pay each eligible grantee. Treasury intends to begin making payments as soon as possible given the urgent need for the funds being disbursed.
Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures established at 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) requests emergency processing for an Emergency Rental Assistance program information collection request.
On December 27, 2020, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the âActâ). Division N, Title V, Section 501(a)(1) of the Act provides $25 billion for the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) to make payments to States (defined to include the District of Columbia), U.S. Territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern
Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), Indian tribes or tribally designated housing entities, as applicable, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, and certain local governments with more than 200,000 residents (collectively the âeligible granteesâ) to provide financial assistance and housing stability services to eligible households.
Treasury is seeking approval for two forms required to implement the directive in Section 501(d) of the Act requiring Treasury to identify excess funds among payments made to eligible grantees and provide for their reallocation to areas of demonstrated need. The statute required Treasury to begin this process on September 30, 2021. Recognizing that grantees may determine their allocated funds exceed their jurisdictional needs, or that other grantees in the same state may be better positioned to administer the funds, Treasuryâs reallocation guidance affords grantees a voluntary reallocation option. Treasury has developed a new template letter form that will allow grantees to initiate this process. Treasury has updated a previously approved form, the Request for Reallocated Funds, to ensure its compatibility with both the voluntary and general reallocation procedures described in the reallocation guidance.
In addition to ensuring greater administrative efficiency, Treasury anticipates that some grantees will initiate the voluntary reallocation process to avoid general (i.e. mandatory) reallocation. As the general reallocation process will commence in earnest on November 15 with the submission of required Obligated Funds Certifications and Program Improvement Plans, it is imperative these forms be made available to eligible grantees as soon as possible. Accordingly, Treasury requests emergency processing and approval prior to November 15, 2021 so that grantees have time for preparation before the operational transfer of reallocated funds begins shortly thereafter. Given the inability to seek public comment during such a short timeframe, Treasury requests a waiver from the requirement to publish notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment.
The revision is to add the ERA1 Voluntary Reallocation Letter and a revised Request for Reallocated Funds Forms, which increases the burden estimates by 200 hours.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Voluntary Reallocation Letter
1505-0266 Emergency Justification Memo ERA1 VRRL R4VRF_signed.pdf
1505-0266 Supporting Statement - Updated Reallocation Form & Letter.docx
Voluntary Reallocation Letter