S.Amdt. 105

This amendment was submitted by Mr. Coons and deals with making sure our elected officials and government agencies follow through on their jobs. Specifically, it aims to add a deficit-neutral reserve fund and a sense of the Senate to the budget resolution.

The amendment aims to change the budget rules so that the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the Senate can make adjustments for legislation requiring Executive Branch agencies to disburse funds to grantees. These grantees are people who have signed legal obligations with the Federal Government to get funds legally appropriated by Congress, including funds from Public Law 117-169, which is commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The goal is to deploy cheap, clean energy for American farmers and rural small businesses without increasing the deficit between fiscal years 2025 and 2034.

Additionally, it adds a Sense of the Senate stating that:

• Funds should be released to farmers, agriculture producers, and rural small businesses to reimburse costs already incurred on projects that have been constructed.
• Continuing to hold those funds risks putting significant financial strain on those farmers, agriculture producers, and rural small businesses because they cannot recoup funding they are legally entitled to.
• The Federal Government should not send more shockwaves through the rural economy and food producers at a time when the rural economy needs financial certainty.