In this week’s newsletter, state leaders can find information on recent actions by Congress, as well as resources on expanding affordable housing, spending opioid settlement funds and navigating another public health emergency.

To view the CSG fiscal policy website, visit: web.csg.org/recovery.  

CSG Resources

Discover how Delaware is utilizing interbranch collaboration to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funds. This article is the second in a series that highlights innovative ways states are using federal funds.A CSG member recently reached out for information on how states can use money from the $26 billion opioid lawsuit settlement. CSG identified three options for policymakers to consider, including Naloxone distribution, Fentanyl detection and prevention programs. Read more: Recommendations for Opioid Settlement Spending.

Key Updates for State Leaders 

The U.S. Senate has passed The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would make nearly $433 billion of new investments in energy, climate and health care and reduce the federal deficit by nearly $248 billion. The legislation is expected to raise approximately $725 billion by introducing changes to corporate taxes, reforming prescription drug pricing and increasing Internal Revenue Service enforcement. The U.S. House of Representatives intends to take up the legislation later this week.The Biden administration announced last week it will soon allocate $5 billion to state governments to begin building a national network of electric charging stations. The funds are part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Individual state allocations are available here. Each state will be required to submit an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan to access these funds.President Biden signed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Fund Act on Monday, August 8. Most media coverage has focused on the bill’s substantial investment in the private sector semiconductor industry, but there are several components important for states[BS1] , particularly in the areas of research, education and workforce development.The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded $500 million to 32 recipients nationwide to establish workforce training programs. The funds come from the American Rescue Plan Act. The list of recipients is available here.The U.S. Department of the Treasury released a new guide on How to use State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds for Affordable Housing and increased the flexibility for government use of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to fully finance long-term housing loans.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency on August 4. The declaration makes federal funds available, allows the Food and Drug Administration to take a variety of medical countermeasures, including streamlining vaccine approval protocols, and more.The federal government has established Heat.gov, which is “the premier source of heat and health information for the nation to reduce the health, economic, and infrastructural impacts of extreme heat.” The site includes a series of U.S. maps tracking heat forecasts and health information for at-risk populations.

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