On March 11, 2021, the President
signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”), Pub. L.
No. 117-2. Title III, Subtitle B, Section 3201of the Act provides
$21.55 billion for the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury)
to make payments to States (defined to include the District of
Columbia), U.S. Territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), and certain
local governments with more than 200,000 residents (collectively
the “eligible grantees”) to provide financial assistance and
housing stability services to eligible households, and cover the
costs for other affordable rental housing and eviction prevention
activities for eligible households. Section 3201(d)(1) requires the
eligible grantees to use the funds to provide financial assistance
and housing stability services to eligible households, and cover
costs for other affordable rental housing and eviction prevention
activities for eligible households. Section 3201(c)(1) provides
that not later than 60 days after March 11, 2021, the Secretary
shall pay each eligible grantee not less than 40% of each grantee’s
total allocation. Treasury intends to begin making payments as soon
as possible given the urgent need for the funds being
disbursed.
Pursuant to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures established at 5 C.F.R. §
1320.13, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) requests
emergency processing for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program
(ERA2) information collection request. On March 11, 2021, the
President signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “Act”),
Pub. L. No. 117-2. Title III, Subtitle B, Section 3201 of the Act
provides $21.55 billion for the U.S. Department of the Treasury
(Treasury) to make payments to States (defined to include the
District of Columbia), U.S. Territories (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), and
certain local governments with more than 200,000 residents
(collectively the “eligible grantees”) to provide financial
assistance and housing stability services to eligible households
and cover the costs for other affordable rental housing and
eviction prevention activities for eligible households. Section
3201(d)(1) requires the eligible grantees to use the funds to
provide financial assistance and housing stability services to
eligible households and cover the costs for other affordable rental
housing and eviction prevention activities for eligible households.
Section 3201(c)(1) provides that not later than 60 days after March
11, 2021, the Secretary shall pay each eligible grantee not less
than 40% of each grantees’ total allocation. Treasury intends to
begin making payments as soon as possible given the urgent need for
the funds being disbursed. Due to the need to make payments
expeditiously to the eligible grantees under section 3201, Treasury
requests emergency processing and OMB approval on 4/13/2021 for the
Recipient Payment Information form and Acceptance of Award Terms
form.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.