Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Emergency Rural Community Relief Act”.
Emergency Rural Community Relief Act
A BILL
To provide for emergency grants for essential community facilities and temporary installations needed in response to COVID–19 pandemic in rural areas.
Sec. 2 Emergency grants for essential community facilities and temporary installations needed in response to COVID–19 pandemic
Section 306(a)(19) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926(a)(19)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “this paragraph” each place it appears and inserting “subparagraph (A)”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(C) Emergency grants
“(i) In general—The Secretary may make grants during an emergency, as determined by the Secretary, to any entity referred to in subparagraph (A) to purchase vehicles, equipment, or services needed for the immediate safe operation of an essential community facility or a temporary installation necessary to support the public response to the emergency in a rural area.
“(ii) Use of grant—The Secretary shall, by regulation, determine—
“(I) the kinds of vehicles, equipment, and supplies which may be purchased using a grant made under this subparagraph; and
“(II) the kinds of facilities and temporary installations for which such a purchase may be made.
“(iii) Appropriation
“(I) In general—Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 to carry out this subparagraph.
“(II) Availability—The amount made available by clause (i) shall remain available through December 31, 2021.”