Representative Mike Garcia (R-CA), House Committee on Appropriations Republican Leader Kay Granger (R-TX), and fellow Republican Appropriators sent a letter to the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting they release the details on all COVID-19 relief funds appropriated by Congress, including unobligated and unspent funds.

“We are committed to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner to deliver additional targeted relief for the American people as needed. To help us better understand how these funds are being used on the frontlines and to ensure that any future funding addresses actual gaps and resource needs, we ask you to please provide updated information on all discretionary funding for COVID-19 relief across the five bills,” the lawmakers wrote.

The pandemic has caused devastating effects for millions of Americans. During the past year, Congress passed several pieces of legislation to help the American people combat and recover from COVID-19, including most recently the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. It is imperative that Congress has the most current data on how the various agencies have distributed the funding provided by Congress as Congress prepares to consider additional legislation. 

“I am committed to ensuring that Californians in the 25th District have the support necessary to safely reopen our community,” said Garcia. “In order to properly provide the right resources and avoid waste, Congress must know the most current data on how the federal government has spent or not spent funding already provided by Congress. As Congress discusses providing additional COVID-19 relief, we need to look at what is working, what isn’t working, and what is still needed. We must do all we can to help the many Californians who are hurting as result of COVID-19 and the state-mandated lockdowns.”

Read the full letter here.

Earlier this year, Rep. Garcia was appointed to serve on the House Appropriations Committee. Learn more here.