Title 12 › Chapter 52— EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION › Subchapter I— TROUBLED ASSETS RELIEF PROGRAM › § 5225
Limits how much the Secretary can spend to buy troubled assets. Starting October 3, 2008, the limit is $250,000,000,000 outstanding at any one time. If the President writes to Congress saying more is needed, the limit becomes $350,000,000,000 when that letter is sent. If the President later sends a report with the Secretary’s plan and Congress does not pass a special disapproval resolution within 15 calendar days after getting the report, the limit rises to $475,000,000,000 after those 15 days. The total counted toward the limit is the sum of the purchase prices of assets held. That amount is not lowered by repayments received before, on, or after July 21, 2010, by guarantees that become uncommitted, or by losses the Secretary has taken. No money under this authority may start a new program that began after June 25, 2010. Congress can block the extra money by passing a fast, specific joint resolution. The resolution must be filed quickly, use a set title and wording, and have no preamble. When Congress gets the Secretary’s report, the House and Senate must meet and act on a tight schedule, committees have short deadlines, debates are limited (the Senate’s debate is capped at 10 hours), and certain days when the President receives or vetoes the resolution do not count toward the 15-day period. These steps are treated as special rules for Congress to follow.
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Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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12 U.S.C. § 5225
Title 12 — Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60