S. 3166 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Nov 7, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryReclaims unspent COVID relief money for deficit reduction
This bill takes back federal money that was set aside for COVID-19 relief but hasn't been spent yet. That money comes from several pandemic relief laws passed between 2020 and 2021. Instead of being used for future spending, these unspent funds would go back to the Treasury and be used to reduce the federal deficit, which is the gap between what the government spends and what it takes in. The President could waive this requirement for specific programs if he notifies Congress within 60 days of the bill becoming law.
How it affects you
This doesn't directly change things for most people right away, but it does affect which programs might lose access to unspent COVID money they were planning to use. Federal agencies, state and local governments, and organizations that received COVID relief funding could see those unused dollars disappear if the President doesn't waive the rescission for their particular programs.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Nov 7, 2025)
Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act
This bill rescinds certain unobligated funds that were provided to address COVID-19 and requires the funds to be used for deficit reduction.
Specifically, the bill rescinds unobligated funds that were provided by
• the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021;
• Divisions M and N of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021;
• the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act;
• the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act);
• the Families First Coronavirus Response Act; and
• the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020.
Funds rescinded by this bill must remain in the Treasury to be used for the sole purpose of deficit reduction.
The bill allows the President to waive the required rescission for an account or program if a notice waiving the rescission for the account or program is submitted to the House Budget Committee and the Senate Finance Committee no later than 60 days after the enactment of this bill.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 3166
A BILL
Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) · Introduced Nov 7, 2025 · Economics and Public Finance · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Nov 8, 2025: “Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 266.”