On December 27, 2020, the President
signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the “Act”).
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 “eligible grantees”) 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 “Act”).
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 “eligible grantees”) 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, Treasury’s 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