II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4836 

To allow COVID–19 relief funds to be used for disaster assistance, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 

Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to 

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

A BILL 

To allow COVID–19 relief funds to be used for disaster 

assistance, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Prioritizing Disaster 

5 Relief Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. USE OF COVID–19 RELIEF FUNDS FOR DISASTER RE7 LIEF. 

8 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 (1) COVID–19 RELIEF FUNDS.—The term 

10 ‘‘COVID–19 relief funds’’ means amounts approVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:26 Sep 15, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4836.IS S4836

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•S 4836 IS

1 priated under the following Acts related to COVID– 

2 19 relief: 

3 (A) The CARES Act (Public Law 116– 

4 136; 134 Stat. 281). 

5 (B) The American Rescue Plan Act of 

6 2021 (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 4). 

7 (C) The Coronavirus Preparedness and Re8 sponse Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 

9 (Public Law 116–23; 134 Stat. 146). 

10 (D) The Emergency Aid for Returning 

11 Americans Affected by Coronavirus Act (Public 

12 Law 116–148; 134 Stat. 661). 

13 (E) The Families First Coronavirus Re14 sponse Act (Public Law 116–127; 134 Stat. 

15 178). 

16 (F) The Paycheck Protection Program and 

17 Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 

18 116–139; 134 Stat. 620). 

19 (G) The Coronavirus Response and Relief 

20 Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 

21 116–260; 134 Stat. 1182). 

22 (H) The Continuing Appropriations Act, 

23 2021 and Other Extensions Act (Public Law 

24 116–159; 134 Stat. 709). 


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•S 4836 IS

1 (I) The Extending Government Funding 

2 and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (Pub3 lic Law 117–43; 134 Stat. 344). 

4 (2) INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.— 

5 The terms ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ and ‘‘Tribal organiza6 tion’’ have the meanings given those terms in section 

7 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 

8 Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

9 (3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each 

10 State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 

11 and any territory or possession of the United States. 

12 (b) USE OF FUNDS FOR DISASTER RELIEF.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any limita14 tion on the use of COVID–19 relief funds under any 

15 other provision of law, a State, unit of local govern16 ment, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization may use 

17 COVID–19 relief funds for expenses related to as18 sisting communities, individuals, and businesses af19 fected by and located within the designated area of 

20 a major disaster or emergency declared under sec21 tion 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Staf22 ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 

23 (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191) before, on, or after the date 

24 of enactment of this Act. 


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•S 4836 IS

1 (2) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—COVID–19 

2 relief funds used in accordance with paragraph (1) 

3 shall supplement and not supplant any other Federal 

4 disaster assistance made available to a community, 

5 individual, or business. 

Æ 


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