Tommy Tuberville and colleagues introduce legislation to simplify federal grant process
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and eight other Republican Senators introduced new legislation to ease the burdensome federal grant application process. Sen. Tuberville and his colleagues introduced the Simplifying Grants Act (S. 4799) to help local governments more easily navigate the federal grant process. “Congress should look for ways to cut red tape and make the government more efficient for the American people,” Tuberville said in a statement. “The Simplifying Grants Act will do just that, giving valuable time and resources back to public servants in smaller towns across the country. In a state like Alabama, where nearly 60 percent of counties would benefit from the changes in this bill, that time will be well spent on projects in those communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to make it easier for small towns to access the tools they deserve.” Tuberville was joined by Sens Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) in sponsoring the legislation. Sen. Rubio was the sponsor of the legislation. “Local governments use federal dollars to invest in infrastructure, public safety, law enforcement, and our children’s education, among other important priorities,” Rubio said. “Regretfully, our current grant process leaves small local governments and their residents behind. This bill would provide a simplified process, so small local governments are able to apply for and receive the funds they need.” The Simplifying Grants Act seeks to make it easier for smaller local governments to apply for federal grants by directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and executive agencies to both simplify grant applications for local governments located in nonurbanized areas (populations of less than 50,000) and make checklists available that list each requirement of each step of the grant process for grants for which such local governments are eligible. The legislation would also fulfill certain reporting requirements. Smaller cities, counties, and local governments often face difficulties in applying for and receiving federal grant dollars because they don’t know they qualify for a program in order to know that they can apply or don’t know how to apply, so often have to seek outside assistance from grant writers. “While larger communities can navigate a complex federal grants process, Idaho’s small, rural communities are often overlooked and left behind, said Sen. Risch. “It is only fair that taxpayer dollars reach even the smallest corners of our state. Simplifying grants for our local governments will level the playing field and ensure that federal taxpayer dollars come back to their own communities.” In the 1980s, the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) found evidence showing that “federal aid programs have never consistently transferred income to the poorest jurisdictions or individuals” and that “unlike… other major federal systems, the United States lacks a systematic method for equalizing the fiscal resources of its states.” Since the ACIR’s landmark report, the total number of federal grants to state and local governments has grown by more than 135 percent, and the total amount of federal grant-in-aid to state and local governments increased by approximately 690 percent since ACIR’s finding. The unequal distribution of federal dollars can be explained by numerous factors, including the complexity of the application process. It is easier for larger local governments to hire dedicated grant writers and coordinators, so they can submit better applications and be more equipped to effectively utilize federally awarded funds. This gives larger local governments an advantage over less populated counties that typically have fewer staff and smaller budgets. With the Senate evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats and Democrats controlling the U.S. House of Representatives and the presidency, Rubio and Tuberville will need support from Democratic Senators to pass S. 4799. Tommy Tuberville is in his first term representing Alabama in the U.S. Senate. Tuberville unseated incumbent Sen. Doug Jones in the 2020 election. Prior to his Senate service, Tuberville was a career college football coach, including Auburn University. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
