Summary
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, P.L. 111-5) created new programs and also extended and/or modified existing ones. Several of the ARRA provisions expired on September 30, 2010, or are set to expire on December 31, 2010. Aside from ARRA, other program areas, such as surface transportation, child nutrition, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are operating under short-term extensions and will require further action before the end of the year.
While Congress has allowed many programs or provisions to lapse, it has acted on some, most notably a two-quarter extension of the increase in Medicaid matching rates. In other instances, it is unclear whether Congress will consider these issues when it returns in November for a lame duck session. This Issue Brief examines expired or expiring programs and highlights recent congressional action.