Return to Sender Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1982
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-10: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T20:41:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The "Return to Sender Act" (H.R. 1982) aims to eliminate unspent funds and repeal specific provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-169), focusing on sections related to environmental and clean energy funding. Its goal is to rescind (cancel) any remaining unobligated money from these sections as a way to reduce federal spending.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is officially named the "Return to Sender Act."
- Rescission and Repeal: As of the date the bill becomes law, all unobligated balances (unspent funds) made available under sections 70002 and 70003 of the Inflation Reduction Act are canceled. These sections are fully repealed, meaning they no longer have legal effect.
- Note: Section 70002 provides funding for a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support projects reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. Section 70003 establishes a National Clean Investment Fund for grants to nonprofits advancing clean energy and climate solutions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill directly reverses parts of the Inflation Reduction Act by repealing two key funding sections, which originally allocated billions of dollars (approximately $27 billion for section 70002 and $14 billion for section 70003) for environmental programs.
- It targets only unobligated funds, leaving any already committed or spent money intact, but it halts future obligations under these sections.
- No new programs or funding are created; the focus is solely on elimination.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Agencies like the EPA would lose access to these funds, potentially disrupting ongoing grants for pollution reduction and clean energy projects. This could lead to scaled-back operations or program closures.
- On Citizens: Individuals and communities relying on these funds for affordable clean energy, job training, or pollution mitigation (e.g., in low-income or polluted areas) might see reduced benefits, such as fewer local environmental improvement initiatives.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly affect U.S. commitments to global climate goals (like reducing emissions), potentially influencing diplomatic discussions on environmental policy.
- Broader Fiscal Effects: Rescinding these funds could reduce the federal budget deficit by the amount of unobligated balances, appealing to efforts to cut government spending.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the EPA and related entities administering the funds.
- Nonprofit and Private Organizations: Groups receiving grants under these sections for clean energy and pollution reduction projects.
- Taxpayers and the Public: Those who benefit from or oppose federal spending on environmental programs; rescission could lower taxes indirectly but limit public services.
- Congressional Members: Sponsors (Rep. Cloud and Rep. Greene) and committees like Oversight and Government Reform, which would oversee implementation.
- Environmental Advocates: Groups supporting or opposing the Inflation Reduction Act's climate initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill uses standard congressional authority to repeal prior laws and rescind appropriations, but it may face challenges if it interferes with existing contracts or obligations under the repealed sections (unobligated funds are generally easier to rescind).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power of the purse (control over federal spending under Article I), with no apparent conflicts.
- Political: Represents a targeted rollback of a major Democratic-led law (the Inflation Reduction Act), potentially signaling partisan divides on fiscal and environmental policy; its introduction in the 119th Congress (starting 2025) suggests alignment with Republican priorities on reducing "green" spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-10: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-03-10: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Return to Sender Act — issued 2025-03-10 — PDF (2 pages)