CLOSE Act

119 HR 7306 IH: Clawing back Lapsed Obligations from State Emergency programs Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-02-02 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7306 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2026 Mr. Miller of Ohio (for himself, Mr. Turner of Ohio , Mr. Balderson , and Mr. Carey ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the CARES Act to terminate unemployment insurance benefit payments under such Act and to rescind unobligated balances of amounts appropriated for the purpose of such payments, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Clawing back Lapsed Obligations from State Emergency programs Act or the CLOSE Act . 2. Rescission of CARES unemployment insurance funds (a) Pandemic unemployment assistance (1) Termination of assistance payments (A) In general Section 2102 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Termination (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, beginning on the 30th day after the date of enactment of this subsection, this section (except subsections (d)(4) and paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (g)) shall have no force or effect. The Secretary may not make payments under subsection (f)(2)(A) after such date. (2) Administrative expenses Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may continue to pay to States the amounts described in subsection (f)(2)(B). . (2) Rescission (A) In general The unobligated balances of amounts in the extended unemployment compensation account (as established by section 905(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1105(a) ) of the Unemployment Trust Fund (as established by section 904(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1104(a) ) that were appropriated pursuant to section 2102(g)(1) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021(g)(1) ) are hereby rescinded. (B) Effective date Subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (1) Termination of emergency increase in benefits (A) In general Section 2104 of the CARES ACT ( 15 U.S.C. 9023 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Termination (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, beginning on the 30th day after the date of enactment of this subsection, this section (other than subsections (f) and (h) and paragraphs (1)(A)(ii), (1)(B), (2), and (3) of subsection (d)) shall have no force or effect. The Secretary may not make payments under subsection (d)(1)(A)(i) after such date. (2) Administrative expenses Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Secretary may continue to pay to States the amounts described in subsection (d)(1)(A)(ii). . (2) Prohibition on agreements Section 2104(a) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: No State may enter or reenter an agreement under this section on or after the date of enactment of this sentence. (3) Rescission (A) In general The unobligated balances of amounts appropriated under paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of section 2104 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023 ) for the purposes of carrying out paragraph (1)(A)(i) of such subsection are hereby rescinded. (B) Effective date Subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (c) Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (1) Repeal Subsections (c) and (d)(1) of section 2107 of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025 ) are hereby repealed. (2) Rescission The unobligated balances of amounts in the extended unemployment compensation account (as established by section 905(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1105(a) ) of the Unemployment Trust Fund (as established by section 904(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1104(a) ) that were appropriated pursuant to section 2107(d)(1) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025(d)(1) ) are hereby rescinded. (3) Effective date This subsection and the amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.