WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the administration of grant programs across the federal government. Governments, organizations, and businesses that are smaller, more rural, or have more limited resources often face difficulties when applying for federal grants because they lack the resources to navigate the complicated application processes. The Streamlining Federal Grants Act would simplify the application process to improve access to federal grants for communities across the country.
“Complicated application processes cause smaller, more rural, and under-resourced communities to miss out on critical opportunities to receive federal grant funding,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation will streamline the grant application process and give communities in Michigan and across the country an equal opportunity to benefit from federal funding.”
“Strategic, competitive federal grants can open opportunities for cities, states, and tribes, as well as local fire departments and others to improve infrastructure, interstate highways and waterways, broadband internet, and more,” said Senator Lankford. “But the huge federal bureaucratic maze continues to make the grant process difficult to navigate. We can do better and we are. Our bill clearly designates an existing employee at each agency to serve on an interagency grants council, serve as the public contact for grants, and help implement the standards of my GREAT Act. Each agency has its own grants process, but the public-facing side of grants should be as simple and straightforward as possible.”
The Streamlining Federal Grants Act requires that each federal agency, in coordination with each other and the Office of Management and Budget, take steps to simplify their grant application process. This includes making funding opportunities easier to understand, updating software systems to manage federal grants, and implementing common data standards for grant reporting. Further, this legislation would require agencies to appoint senior officials to develop and oversee these initiatives to improve the transparency and efficiency of the grant application and reporting processes. By improving this process, less burden will be placed on grant applicants, ensuring the fair and efficient distribution of funding to communities that need assistance most.
Below are statements in support of the bipartisan legislation:
“Federal grants have the power to transform communities, but too many – especially small and rural municipalities – struggle to overcome bureaucratic barriers,” said Clarence E. Anthony, National League of Cities CEO and Executive Director. “The Streamlining Federal Grants Act will make the federal grant system more efficient by reducing overly burdensome and duplicative processes across all federal agencies. The National League of Cities thanks Senators Peters and Lankford for their bipartisan leadership and ongoing commitment to reforming the federal grant system.”
“From small towns to big cities, in every congressional district and state, nonprofits partner with the federal government to provide the essential services needed to improve communities and save lives,” said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “The Streamlining Federal Grants Act will help more nonprofits access federal grants by simplifying the federal grantmaking process, ensuring greater coordination among federal agencies, and creating new opportunities for nonprofit input. The National Council of Nonprofits and its network look forward to advancing this bipartisan legislation.”
“The Michigan Municipal League strongly supports the Streamlining Federal Grants Act which will make federal grants more accessible to our over 500 cities, villages and townships,” said Michigan Municipal League Executive Director and CEO Dan Gilmartin. “Thank you, Senator Peters, for working to cut the red tape and make federal grants more efficient.
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