Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act
Sep 30, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 344
Became law: Sep 30, 2021
Sep 30, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 344
Became law: Sep 30, 2021
Summary
Keeps the government running until December 3, 2021, gives money for natural disasters, and helps people who left Afghanistan.
What problem does this solve?
The government was about to shut down due to a lack of funding. This law provides temporary money to keep federal agencies open and also gives emergency aid for recent natural disasters and for Afghans who have fled their country.
What does this law do?
Temporary government funding
Keeps the federal government funded at 2021 levels until December 3, 2021, to prevent a shutdown.
Aid for Afghan evacuees
Provides over $6.3 billion across multiple agencies to support the resettlement of Afghans, including housing, medical care, and processing of immigration applications.
Disaster relief for farmers
Allocates $10 billion to help farmers and ranchers recover from losses caused by droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters in 2020 and 2021.
Community and infrastructure disaster recovery
Provides $5 billion to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for long-term community recovery and over $5 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers for flood and storm damage repairs.
Benefits for Afghan arrivals
Makes Afghans paroled into the U.S. between July 2021 and September 2022 eligible for the same benefits as refugees, such as resettlement assistance.
Funding for unaccompanied children
Appropriates an additional $2.5 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services for the care of unaccompanied migrant children.
Increased food aid for women and children
Increases the value of vouchers for fruits and vegetables in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Extension of flood insurance
Extends the authority for the National Flood Insurance Program through December 3, 2021.
Extension of fentanyl scheduling
Extends the temporary order classifying fentanyl-related substances as illegal Schedule I drugs until January 28, 2022.
Who does this affect?
- Federal government employees
- Afghan evacuees
- Farmers and communities affected by natural disasters
What is the real world impact?
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Avoids a government shutdown
Provides temporary funding to keep federal agencies and services operating, preventing the disruption that a shutdown would cause for government employees and the public.
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Addresses urgent national crises
Includes emergency money for communities hit by recent hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts, and provides resources to help resettle Afghans who fled their country after the U.S. withdrawal.
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Uses a must-pass bill to advance other priorities
Bundles disaster and refugee aid into the essential government funding bill. This legislative strategy makes it difficult for lawmakers to vote against the extra spending without also voting to shut down the government.
When does this start?
This law provides funding for the government to continue operating until December 3, 2021, and includes several other provisions with different timelines.
Government funding expiration
The temporary funding provided to keep the government open expires on December 3, 2021.
Afghan evacuee benefits
Afghans paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2022, are eligible for benefits until at least March 31, 2023.
Fentanyl analogue scheduling
The temporary emergency scheduling of fentanyl-related substances is extended until January 28, 2022.
National School Lunch Program waivers
Waivers providing flexibility for school meal programs are extended through June 30, 2022.