---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7143a"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7143a"
heading: "Amounts obligated but unspent; prohibition on use of funds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7143a"
units:
  - "Chapter 90 — Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination"
  - "Subchapter III — County Funds"
---

# §7143a. Amounts obligated but unspent; prohibition on use of funds

- (a) **Amounts obligated but unspent—** Any [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1) that were obligated by the applicable [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) before October 1, 2017, but are unspent on October 1, 2020—
  - (1) may, at the option of the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1), be deemed to have been reserved by the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) on October 1, 2020, for expenditure in accordance with this subchapter; and
  - (2)
    - (A) may be used by the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) for any authorized use under [section 7142(a) of this title](/usc/16/7142.md?p=a); and
    - (B) on a determination by the [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A) to use the [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1), shall be available for [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) initiated after October 1, 2020, subject to [section 7144 of this title](/usc/16/7144.md).
- (b) **Prohibition on use of funds—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective beginning on November 15, 2021, no [county funds](/usc/16/7141.md?p=1) made available under this subchapter may be used by any [participating county](/usc/16/7121.md?p=1) for any lobbying activity, regardless of the purpose for which the funds are obligated on or before that date.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–393, title III, § 304, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title XII, § 41202(g)(2), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1134.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 304 of Pub. L. 106–393 was renumbered section 305 and is classified to section 7144 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Wage Rate Requirements

For provisions relating to rates of wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics on projects for construction, alteration, or repair work funded under div. D or an amendment by div. D of Pub. L. 117–58, including authority of Secretary of Labor, see section 18851 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.