Title 12, Banks and BankingRelease 119-110
§5225 Graduated Authorization to Purchase
Title 12 › CHAPTER 52 — EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION › SUBCHAPTER I — TROUBLED ASSETS RELIEF PROGRAM › § 5225
Summary
Sets limits on how much the Secretary can spend buying troubled assets. Starting October 3, 2008, the cap is $250,000,000,000 outstanding at any one time. If the President sends Congress a written certification saying more is needed, the cap becomes $350,000,000,000. If the President then sends a written plan for using the extra money and Congress does not pass a special disapproval resolution within 15 calendar days, the cap increases to $475,000,000,000. The total amount counted is the sum of the purchase prices of all troubled assets held at once. That total is not lowered by repayments of principal received before, on, or after July 21, 2010, by guarantees that become uncommitted, or by any losses the Secretary takes. The authority cannot be used to start any new program or initiative that began after June 25, 2010. Congress can block the increase above $350,000,000,000 by quickly passing a joint resolution that meets strict rules: it must be introduced within 3 days, have no preamble, use a specified short title, and say Congress disapproves obligations beyond the amounts named in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 115(a). Both the House and Senate must reconvene fast, follow tight deadlines for committee action, and limit debate and amendments under the special procedures set out in the law. Days when the President is given the resolution or vetoes it are not counted in the 15-day waiting period.
Full Legal Text
Title 12, §5225
Banks and Banking, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Authority
The authority of the Secretary to purchase troubled assets under this chapter shall be limited as follows:
(1)Effective upon October 3, 2008, such authority shall be limited to $250,000,000,000 outstanding at any one time.
(2)If at any time, the President submits to the Congress a written certification that the Secretary needs to exercise the authority under this paragraph, effective upon such submission, such authority shall be limited to $350,000,000,000 outstanding at any one time.
(3)If, at any time after the certification in paragraph (2) has been made, the President transmits to the Congress a written report detailing the plan of the Secretary to exercise the authority under this paragraph, unless there is enacted, within 15 calendar days of such transmission, a joint resolution described in subsection (c), effective upon the expiration of such 15-day period, such authority shall be limited to $475,000,000,000.
(4)For purposes of this subsection, the amount of authority considered to be exercised by the Secretary shall not be reduced by—
(A)any amounts received by the Secretary before, on, or after July 21, 2010, from repayment of the principal of financial assistance by an entity that has received financial assistance under the TARP or any other program enacted by the Secretary under the authorities granted to the Secretary under this chapter;
(B)any amounts committed for any guarantees pursuant to the TARP that became or become uncommitted; or
(C)any losses realized by the Secretary.
(5)No authority under this chapter may be used to incur any obligation for a program or initiative that was not initiated prior to June 25, 2010.
(b)Aggregation of purchase prices
The amount of troubled assets purchased by the Secretary outstanding at any one time shall be determined for purposes of the dollar amount limitations under subsection (a) by aggregating the purchase prices of all troubled assets held.
(c)Joint resolution of disapproval
(1)In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary may not exercise any authority to make purchases under this chapter with regard to any amount in excess of $350,000,000,000 previously obligated, as described in this section if, within 15 calendar days after the date on which Congress receives a report of the plan of the Secretary described in subsection (a)(3), there is enacted into law a joint resolution disapproving the plan of the Secretary with respect to such additional amount.
(2)Contents of joint resolution
For the purpose of this section, the term “joint resolution” means only a joint resolution—
(A)that is introduced not later than 3 calendar days after the date on which the report of the plan of the Secretary referred to in subsection (a)(3) is received by Congress;
(B)which does not have a preamble;
(C)the title of which is as follows: “Joint resolution relating to the disapproval of obligations under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008”; and
(D)the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: “That Congress disapproves the obligation of any amount exceeding the amounts obligated as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 115(a) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.”.
(d)Fast track consideration in House of Representatives
(1)Reconvening
Upon receipt of a report under subsection (a)(3), the Speaker, if the House would otherwise be adjourned, shall notify the Members of the House that, pursuant to this section, the House shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of such report;
(2)Reporting and discharge
Any committee of the House of Representatives to which a joint resolution is referred shall report it to the House not later than 5 calendar days after the date of receipt of the report described in subsection (a)(3). If a committee fails to report the joint resolution within that period, the committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the joint resolution and the joint resolution shall be referred to the appropriate calendar.
(3)Proceeding to consideration
After each committee authorized to consider a joint resolution reports it to the House or has been discharged from its consideration, it shall be in order, not later than the sixth day after Congress receives the report described in subsection (a)(3), to move to proceed to consider the joint resolution in the House. All points of order against the motion are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion to proceed on the joint resolution. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion. The motion shall not be debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
(4)Consideration
The joint resolution shall be considered as read. All points of order against the joint resolution and against its consideration are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint resolution to its passage without intervening motion except two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the joint resolution shall not be in order.
(e)Fast track consideration in Senate
(1)Reconvening
Upon receipt of a report under subsection (a)(3), if the Senate has adjourned or recessed for more than 2 days, the majority leader of the Senate, after consultation with the minority leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this section, the Senate shall convene not later than the second calendar day after receipt of such message.
(2)Placement on calendar
Upon introduction in the Senate, the joint resolution shall be placed immediately on the calendar.
(3)Floor consideration
(A)In general
Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order at any time during the period beginning on the 4th day after the date on which Congress receives a report of the plan of the Secretary described in subsection (a)(3) and ending on the 6th day after the date on which Congress receives a report of the plan of the Secretary described in subsection (a)(3) (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution, and all points of order against the joint resolution (and against consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the joint resolution shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
(B)Debate
Debate on the joint resolution, and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority leaders or their designees. A motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the joint resolution is not in order.
(C)Vote on passage
The vote on passage shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate on a joint resolution, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the Senate.
(D)Rulings of the chair on procedure
Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a joint resolution shall be decided without debate.
(f)Rules relating to Senate and House of Representatives
(1)Coordination with action by other House
If, before the passage by one House of a joint resolution of that House, that House receives from the other House a joint resolution, then the following procedures shall apply:
(A)The joint resolution of the other House shall not be referred to a committee.
(B)With respect to a joint resolution of the House receiving the resolution—
(i)the procedure in that House shall be the same as if no joint resolution had been received from the other House; but
(ii)the vote on passage shall be on the joint resolution of the other House.
(2)Treatment of joint resolution of other House
If one House fails to introduce or consider a joint resolution under this section, the joint resolution of the other House shall be entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.
(3)Treatment of companion measures
If, following passage of the joint resolution in the Senate, the Senate then receives the companion measure from the House of Representatives, the companion measure shall not be debatable.
(4)Consideration after passage
(A)In general
If Congress passes a joint resolution, the period beginning on the date the President is presented with the joint resolution and ending on the date the President takes action with respect to the joint resolution shall be disregarded in computing the 15-calendar day period described in subsection (a)(3).
(B)Vetoes
If the President vetoes the joint resolution—
(i)the period beginning on the date the President vetoes the joint resolution and ending on the date the Congress receives the veto message with respect to the joint resolution shall be disregarded in computing the 15-calendar day period described in subsection (a)(3), and
(ii)debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section shall be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and minority leaders or their designees.
(5)Rules of House of Representatives and Senate
This subsection and subsections (c), (d), and (e) are enacted by Congress—
(A)as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of a joint resolution, and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such rules; and
(B)with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), was in the original “this Act” and was translated as reading “this division”, meaning div. A of Pub. L. 110–343, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3765, known as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. For complete classification of division A to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 5201 of this title and Tables. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(C), (D), is div. A of Pub. L. 110–343, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3765, which is classified principally to this chapter. Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 115(a) of the Act are classified to paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, of subsec. (a) of this section. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 5201 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–203, § 1302(1)(B), struck out “outstanding at any one time” before the period at the end. Pub. L. 111–203, § 1302(1)(A), which directed substitution of “$475,000,000,000” for “, $700,000,000,000, as such amount is reduced by $1,259,000,000, as such amount is reduced by $1,244,000,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “$700,000,000,000, as such amount is reduced by $1,259,000,000,, as such amount is reduced by $1,244,000,000,”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 111–203, § 1302(2), added pars. (4) and (5). 2009—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–22, § 402(f), inserted “, as such amount is reduced by $1,259,000,000,” after “$700,000,000,000”. Pub. L. 111–22, § 202(b), inserted of “, as such amount is reduced by $1,244,000,000,” after “$700,000,000,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 5301 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 5225
Title 12, Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110