INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA)
Download FFIS’s IIJA State Allocations Spreadsheet FFIS continues to populate its IIJA spreadsheet with new announcements on program implementation; each week’s changes are highlighted in yellow. A dedicated tab includes recently issued Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs). New allocations are provided for:
- Aging Infrastructure Account (updated FY 2022 and FY 2023 allocations)
- Clean School Bus Program (FY 2023 grant awards)
- Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants (corridor charging and community charging; FY 2022-2023 awards)
AGRICULTURE
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Announces Three-Day Workshop on ReConnect Round 5 Applications The workshop for the Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect) will be in-person in Reno, Nevada, February 27-29. It will provide attendees with an understanding of the application system and program requirements for FY 2024. Register at the link above.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Posts Guidance on Wind-Down of Affordable Connectivity Program The commission projects that April will be the last month for which there will be sufficient funds to fully reimburse providers for benefits provided to enrolled households, most of which receive a monthly $30 discount on broadband service. In additional to the press release and order at the above link, a fact sheet on the wind-down is here and an FAQ is here. Bicameral, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to extend the program. The commission is holding webinars on the wind-down:
INTERIOR
Department of the Interior (DOI) Announces $138 Million in FY 2024 Investments to Address Wildfire Risks The funding includes $12.4 million to modernize wildland fire training and position qualifications and $7.5 million to restore damaged landscapes.
DOI Awards $6 Million for Ecosystem Restoration Projects in Eight States Roughly $2.5 million of this funding comes from IIJA appropriations for agreements through DOI’s Good Neighbor Authority; the source of remaining funding is not specified.
TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Awards $623 Million for Building Out Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network Through FY 2022-2023 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant Program Awards—a list of which is available here—include $311 million to 36 “community” projects and $312 million for 11 “corridor” projects.
House Passes Resolution Disapproving of FHWA’s Buy America Waiver for EV Chargers The Senate passed the resolution in November. The measure now heads to the president, who has indicated that he will veto it.
INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)
Download IRA State Allocations Spreadsheet The spreadsheet, updated weekly, lists state allocations and estimates, summary information on eligibility and other grant features, and links to additional information. No new allocations are provided this week.
COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Announces $34 Million for Fire Weather Research
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Announces Availability of up to $32 Million to Address Air Pollution in Schools Grants will be distributed on a competitive basis to develop and adopt indoor air quality (IAQ) management plans to address air pollution and energy efficiency. State and local governments are eligible to apply. Applications are due March 19. EPA will host a webinar on the opportunity on January 25, 1:00 p.m. ET (register). Additional information is here.
EPA Proposes Methane Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems The proposed rule will assess a charge on certain large emitters of waste methane from the oil and gas sector that exceed emissions intensity levels set by the IRA. Comments are due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register. Additional information is here.
CORONAVIRUS
Download COVID-19 State Allocations Spreadsheet New allocations are provided this week for:
- FEMA Public Assistance
- Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Benefits
EDUCATION
Department of Education (ED) Updates COVID Materials Updates include:
- Links to American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) maintenance of equity materials
- ARP liquidation extension letter
- ESSER, Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER), and Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) liquidation extension request FAQs
- Liquidation extension template (available here, in Announcements section)
- January 8 Newsflash, with recent communications, upcoming deadlines, and other resources
HEALTH
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Launches New Medicaid/CHIP Resource Hub to Help Keep People Covered The outreach and engagement resource hub pulls together materials from across the federal government. It is a part of the administration’s effort to ensure people with Medicaid or CHIP coverage are aware of states’ renewal processes and can easily renew their coverage, or, if appropriate, get connected to other coverage through their job or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces.
HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Releases Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Action Transmittal The transmittal provides LIHWAP grant recipients that were approved for a No Cost Extension (NCE) with the LIHWAP FY 2024 Quarterly Report, Quarter 1 (Q1) submission deadline of January 31, 2024, and additional submission information.
HOUSING
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Host Webinar on Closeout for HOME, HTF, and HOME-ARP Grants The webinar will familiarize HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Participating Jurisdictions (PJs) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) grantees with instructions and requirements for closing out HOME, HTF, and HOME-ARP grants in HUD’s Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS). It will be held January 24, 2:00 p.m. ET. Register here.
TREASURY
Treasury Stands Up October 2023 Data Dashboard for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) The department also posted an October 2023 Reporting Data Analysis.
Treasury Opens Portal for Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Q4 2023 Quarterly Report The report is due February 15. The department also updated its Guidance on Participant Compliance and Reporting Responsibilities, FAQs, and Quarterly Report User Guide.
Treasury Schedules Pre-application Webinar on SSBCI Investing in America Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) NOFO The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) SBOP is here. The webinar will be held January 17, 4:00 p.m. ET (register here). Related materials include:
OTHER NEWS
BUDGET UPDATE
Congress Tees Up Another CR The new continuing resolution (CR) follows the contours of the CR currently in effect, described in FFIS Budget Brief 23-24. The Senate is expected to take up the measure today. Important characteristics of the bill include the following:
- The bill extends current funding levels and excludes new policy provisions.
- Funding for agencies covered by four appropriations bills—Military Construction-Veterans Administration, Agriculture, Energy-Water, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development—is extended to March 1, while funding for agencies covered by the remaining eight bills is extended to March 8.
- It provides additional funding for Community Health Centers until March 8.
- It delays Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment cuts until March 8.
- It extends Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) until March 8.
GENERAL
Census Bureau Releases New State-Level Data for Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes The update includes employment and earnings data at the state level, aggregating information for graduates across all partner institutions within a state.
OMB Releases Digital Accessibility Guidance The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently released updated guidance requiring federal agencies to improve their digital accessibility for people with disabilities.
EDUCATION
ED Awards $6.4 Million to Address Community Violence Grants are being awarded to seven school districts as part of Project Prevent, which helps build the capacity of local educational agencies (LEAs) that have been affected by community violence. A list of recipients is in the press release.
Administration to Shorten Path to Debt Cancellation for Some SAVE Borrowers Next month it will start providing forgiveness after as few as 10 years of payments for borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan who originally took out $12,000 or less for college.
ENERGY
DOE Awards $32.5 Million for 16 Projects to Expand EV Deployment and Lower EV Infrastructure Costs A list of projects is here.
ENVIRONMENT
EPA Adds Seven Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to List of Chemicals Covered by the Toxics Release Inventory
EPA Proposes Amendments to New Source Performance Standards and Emission Guidelines for Large Facilities that Burn Municipal Solid Waste Comments on the proposed rule are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Additional information is here.
HEALTH
Department of Justice (DOJ) Proposes Regulations for Accessibility of State and Local Government Medical Diagnostic Equipment HHS will promulgate a similar proposal that applies to recipients of its financial assistance. Comments are due February 12.
More Than 20 Million Selected Coverage in ACA Marketplace Since Start of Open Enrollment Period, a Record High
Report Examines State Efforts to Coordinate Provider Directory Accuracy The study focused on how states may coordinate one type of solution to improve accuracy: a centralized provider directory.
MACPAC Brief Addresses Behavioral Health and Beneficiary Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) brief highlights data from the 2016 Association of American Medical Colleges Consumer Survey of Health Care Access to assess behavioral health care access, overall patient experience and satisfaction, as well as experience with unfair treatment and discrimination.
HUMAN SERVICES
AmeriCorps Partners with ACL to Increase Volunteer Opportunities AmeriCorps and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate development of collaborative activities to help modernize the way public and private nonprofit organizations utilize volunteers — especially older adults and people with disabilities.
Webinar Will Address Using Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to Support Children Involved in Mental Health and Child Welfare Systems Panelists will discuss how communities can get started with ABCD and how it can be used to support children outside of formal service systems and keep them in the least restrictive placements with their families and natural supports. It will be held January 22, 2:00 p.m. (register here).
Dear Colleague Letter Addresses Release of Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Funds Under Second CR The letter documents the funding release date and reminds grant recipients that these funds are available for drawdown in the Payment Management System.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of Inspector General (OIG) Finds That Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Needs to Improve Collaboration to Enhance Cyber Resiliency in Water and Wastewater Sector
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Publishes 2024 Law Enforcement Resource Guide New this year, the guide includes information about CISA’s Shared Cybersecurity Services (SCS) funding that provides state and local law enforcement agencies, state fusion centers, and others with no-cost access to commercial Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) and services.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Host Webinars on New Post-Disaster Equity Guide The webinars will be held:
- January 24, 2:00 p.m. ET (register)
- January 31, 7:00 p.m. ET (register)
- February 13, 12:00 p.m. ET (register)
The guide is here.
HOUSING
HUD Issues New Radon Policy and $3 Million in Grants for Testing and Mitigation The Departmental Policy for Addressing Radon in the Environmental Review Process applies to projects that are subject to HUD’s contamination regulations. Awards totaling more than $3 million were made to public housing agencies in six states to protect children and families from radon hazards. A list of recipients is in the press release.
HUD Publishes Proposed Rule to Promote Economic Development in Underserved Communities The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking updates regulations for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) Programs. It would streamline requirements, promote investments in underserved communities, and enable larger construction projects such as housing rehabilitation, mixed-use development, and infrastructure improvements. Comments close March 11.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Announces $33.8 Million for 260 Humanities Projects Nationwide Grant awards support capacity-building projects at small museums, documentation of community heritage, conservation research and training, humanities initiatives at college campuses, and new research and digital resources in the humanities. A list of awards by location is here.
FCC Publishes Final Rule on Reliability of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Most provisions take effect February 15.
JUSTICE
DOJ Releases Guide on Use of Specialized Units in Law Enforcement Agencies
LABOR
Department of Labor (DOL) Publishes Final Rule on Independent Contractor Classification Under Fair Labor Standards Act DOL also posted FAQs, a press release, and a link to the rule as proposed last October. The final rule rescinds a rule on the topic published January 7, 2021.
DOL Announces 2024 UI SIDES Training Seminar The Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Information Data Exchange System (SIDES) allows the electronic transmission of UI claims information between UI agencies and employers. This seminar, hosted by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) on March 12-14, 2024, in Pittsburgh, PA, will provide information on SIDES usage and operational issues and facilitate discussions between state workforce agencies and employers. The NASWA Integrity Center will also be on-hand to share implementation strategies and promising practices related to program integrity. Registration will close at 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 19.
DOL Rescinds Revision to Appendix E of Employment and Training Handbook No. 407 Regarding Employer Audits of Contributory Employers Conducted by State Auditors DOL failed to solicit public comment on the revision and plans to do so now.
NUTRITION
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Posts Final List of States Planning to Launch Permanent Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) in 2024 The list includes 35 states, all five territories, and four tribes.
FNS Seeks Comment on Information Collection for Study to Improve Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Medicaid State Agency Coordination Comments will be accepted through February 12.
FNS Posts SNAP Quality Control Documents
FNS Posts Guidance on Use of Advanced Automation Technologies in SNAP The memo discusses robotic process automation and artificial intelligence, noting what kinds of changes require state agencies to notify FNS.
FNS Publishes New Resource for Growing and Strengthening SNAP Employment and Training Programs The four-part program covers exploration, design, providers, and data.
TRANSPORTATION
Department of Transportation Releases 2021-2023 Progress Report
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Launches Procurement Cost and Price Analysis – Regulations and Best Practices E-Learning Course The course provides the fundamentals and best practices for procurement cost and price analysis.