Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act
A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 266.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act. Its goal is to take back unused money from several COVID-related laws to help reduce the national deficit. The money will be returned to the general fund of the Treasury. The President can stop certain funds from being taken back by submitting a notice for national security reasons.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +8
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill explicitly directs rescinded funds to the general fund for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
- Scored +7
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The act removes unobligated balances from several major COVID-related spending laws.
- Scored +7
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Recapturing unused funds to lower the deficit demonstrates a commitment to fiscal discipline.
The opposite· 3 of 20
- Scored -4
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
Rescinding funds from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act reduces resources for future readiness.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Rescinding funds from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act removes available support for small businesses.
- Scored -3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Rescinding funds from social safety net programs reduces the available resources for low-income support.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Deficit Reduction: According to Section 2(c), the rescinded amounts must be used for the sole purpose of deficit reduction, which aims to lower the national deficit.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Loss of Funding: Section 2(a) rescinds unobligated balances from multiple laws, including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the CARES Act, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which removes those available funds.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill explicitly directs rescinded funds to the general fund for the sole purpose of deficit reduction. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Recapturing unused funds to lower the deficit demonstrates a commitment to fiscal discipline. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The act removes unobligated balances from several major COVID-related spending laws. Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — Reducing government spending and the national deficit is generally viewed as a mechanism to curb inflationary pressure. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Rescinding funds from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act removes available support for small businesses. Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs? — Rescinding unused funds from the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan may eliminate remaining potential payouts or administrative support.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Rescission of Paycheck Protection Program funds eliminates remaining support for small business owners. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Rescinding funds from social safety net programs reduces the available resources for low-income support. Would children be better off under this? — Loss of potential school and childcare funding via American Rescue Plan rescissions. Would students be better off under this? — Reduction in potential school and education recovery funds. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Marginalized communities often rely more heavily on the funding programs being rescinded. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Marginalized communities often rely more heavily on the funding programs being rescinded. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Marginalized communities often rely more heavily on the funding programs being rescinded. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Loss of potential social service funding from COVID-era acts. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Rural infrastructure and health projects may lose remaining unobligated funding. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Urban areas often received larger allocations of COVID relief funds that are now being rescinded. Would women be better off under this? — Potential loss of childcare funding disproportionately affects women.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — Rescinding American Rescue Plan funds may impact remaining housing assistance programs. Does this make child care cost less? — Funds from the American Rescue Plan often supported childcare; rescinding unused balances removes that potential aid. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — The rescission of COVID-era funds may eliminate remaining grants intended for homelessness prevention. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Removing unused funds from social safety net laws like the CARES Act reduces resources available for poverty alleviation.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — Rescinding funds from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act reduces resources for future readiness. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Rescinding funds from health-related COVID acts may reduce funding for remaining public health initiatives.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — Rescinding American Rescue Plan funds removes unobligated balances that may have been intended for school recovery.
- 1/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/8/2025
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 266.
- 11/7/2025
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida