Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110
§9111 Assistance for Providers of Transportation Services Affected by Covid–19
Title 15 › CHAPTER 116 — CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC STABILIZATION (CARES ACT) › SUBCHAPTER III — ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND ASSISTANCE TO SEVERELY DISTRESSED SECTORS OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY › Part D — Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act › § 9111
Summary
Provides $2,000,000,000 in Treasury grants for fiscal year 2021 to help U.S. passenger transportation companies that lost at least 25% of their annual revenue because of COVID‑19. Funds stay available until spent. Covered period = Dec 27, 2020 through the later of March 31, 2021 or when a recipient spends its grant. COVID‑19 = the Coronavirus Disease 2019. Payroll costs = most employee pay and benefits, capped at $100,000 per person per year. Provider of transportation services = a U.S.-based passenger vessel, over‑the‑road bus, school bus, or similar DOT‑regulated passenger carrier that operated on March 1, 2020 and has most employees in the U.S. Secretary = Secretary of the Treasury. Grants go to providers who certify a 25% or greater revenue loss and who are either employers with 500 or fewer workers on March 1, 2020 and not part of a larger company over 500, or larger employers that did not already receive certain prior federal COVID aid. The total federal COVID aid a recipient gets cannot exceed its total revenue for 2019, and applicants must give 2019 revenue records and a certification. The Treasury may consider debt and other federal aid when setting award amounts. Grants must be given as cash and the Treasury must make access fair for small, minority‑owned, and women‑owned firms. Recipients must use the money first to keep payroll for employees on Dec 27, 2020 (except for retirement or voluntary departures), must not impose involuntary furloughs or pay cuts for nonexecutive staff during the covered period, and must recall or rehire employees laid off after March 27, 2020 as service returns. The rehiring rule starts the later of 30 days after getting the funds or 90 days after Dec 27, 2020. At least 60% of a grant must go to payroll unless the provider certifies it has rehired and is paying employees and meeting 2019 staffing levels; unused funds must be returned within one year and spending must be reviewed at least every 90 days. Allowed uses also include buying protective equipment and services, keeping up and running existing equipment and facilities (rent, leases, insurance, interest), and paying returning employees, but such pay must be reduced by any furlough, severance, or unemployment money the employee already received and is not treated as an unemployment overpayment. The Treasury can hire staff, make contracts, and issue rules to run the program. Up to $50,000,000 of the funds may pay administrative costs. Funds can be obligated until three years after Dec 27, 2020.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §9111
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Definitions
In this section: (1) Covered period
(2)COVID–19
The term “COVID–19” means the Coronavirus Disease 2019.
(3)Payroll costs
(A)In general
The term “payroll costs” means—
(i)any payment to an employee of compensation in the form of—
(I)salary, wage, commission, or similar compensation;
(II)payment of a cash tip or an equivalent;
(III)payment for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave;
(IV)payment required for the provision of group health care or other group insurance benefits, including insurance premiums;
(V)payment of a retirement benefit;
(VI)payment of a State or local tax assessed on employees with respect to compensation; or
(VII)paid administrative leave; and
(ii)any payment of compensation to, or income of, a sole proprietor or independent contractor—
(I)that is—
(aa)a wage;
(bb)a commission;
(cc)income;
(dd)net earnings from self-employment; or
(ee)similar compensation; and
(II)in an amount equal to not more than $100,000 during 1 calendar year, as prorated for the covered period.
(B)Exclusions
The term “payroll costs” does not include—
(i)any compensation of an individual employee in excess of an annual salary of $100,000, as prorated for the covered period;
(ii)any tax imposed or withheld under chapter 21, 22, or 24 of title 26 during the covered period;
(iii)any compensation of an employee whose principal place of residence is outside the United States;
(iv)any qualified sick leave wages for which a credit is allowed under section 7001 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (26 U.S.C. 3111 note; Public Law 116–127);
(v)any qualified family leave wages for which a credit is allowed under section 7003 of that Act (26 U.S.C. 3111 note; Public Law 116–127); or
(vi)any bonus, raise in excess of inflation, or other form of additional employee compensation.
(4)Provider of transportation services
The term “provider of transportation services” means an entity that—
(A)is established or organized—
(i)in the United States; or
(ii)pursuant to Federal law;
(B)has significant operations, and a majority of employees based, in the United States;
(C)was in operation on March 1, 2020; and
(D)is the operator of—
(i)a vessel of the United States (as defined in section 116 of title 46) that is—
(I)a passenger vessel (as defined in section 2101 of that title) carrying fewer than 2,400 passengers;
(II)a small passenger vessel (as defined in section 2101 of that title); or
(III)a vessel providing pilotage services and regulated by a State in accordance with chapter 85 of that title;
(ii)a company providing transportation services using a bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment (commonly known as an “over-the-road bus”), including local and intercity fixed-route service, commuter service, and charter or tour service (including tour or excursion service that includes features in addition to bus transportation, such as meals, lodging, admission to points of interest or special attractions, or the services of a guide);
(iii)a company providing transportation services using a school bus (as defined in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)); or
(iv)any other passenger transportation service company subject to regulation by the Department of Transportation as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, determines to be appropriate.
(5)Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury.
(b)Funding
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to provide grants to eligible providers of transportation services under this section, $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, to remain available until expended.
(c)Provision of assistance
(1)In general
The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall use the amounts made available under subsection (b) to provide grants to eligible providers of transportation services described in paragraph (2) that certify to the Secretary that the providers of transportation services have experienced a revenue loss of 25 percent or more, on an annual basis, as a direct or indirect result of COVID–19.
(2)Description of eligible providers of transportation services
(A)In general
An eligible provider of transportation services referred to in paragraph (1) is—
(i)a provider of transportation services that, on March 1, 2020—
(I)had 500 or fewer full-time, part-time, or temporary employees; and
(II)was not a subsidiary, parent, or affiliate of any other entity with a combined total workforce of more than 500 full-time, part-time, or temporary employees; or
(ii)a provider of transportation services that—
(I)on March 1, 2020, had more than 500 full-time, part-time, or temporary employees; and
(II)has not received assistance under paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 9042(b) of this title, or subtitle B of title IV of division A, of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 281) [15 U.S.C. 9071 et seq.].
(B)Scope of eligibility for certain companies
(i)In general
A provider of transportation services that has entered into or maintains a contract or agreement described in clause (ii) shall not be determined to be ineligible for assistance under this subsection on the basis of that contract or agreement, subject to clause (iv).
(ii)Contract or agreement described
A contract or agreement referred to in clause (i) is a contract or agreement for transportation services that is supported by a public entity using funds received under the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations (division B of Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 505).
(iii)Adjustment of assistance
The Secretary may reduce the amount of assistance available under this subsection to a provider of transportation services described in clause (i) based on the amount of funds provided under this section or the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations (division B of Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 505) that have supported a contract or agreement described in clause (ii) to which the provider of transportation services is a party.
(iv)Notice requirement
A provider of transportation services that has entered into or maintains a contract or agreement described in clause (ii), and that applies for assistance under this subsection, shall submit to the Secretary a notice describing the contract or agreement, including the amount of funds provided for the contract or agreement under this subsection or the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations (division B of Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 505).
(3)Amount
(A)Factors for consideration
In determining the amount of assistance to be provided to an eligible provider of transportation services under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration information provided by the provider of transportation services, including—
(i)the amount of debt owed by the provider of transportation services on major equipment, if any;
(ii)other sources of Federal assistance provided to the provider of transportation services, if any; and
(iii)such other information as the Secretary may require.
(B)Limitations
(i)Award
The Secretary shall ensure that the amount of assistance provided to a provider of transportation services under this subsection, when combined with any other Federal assistance provided in response to COVID–19 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116–136; 134 Stat. 281), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law 116–139; 134 Stat. 620), or any other provision of law, does not exceed the total amount of revenue earned by the provider of transportation services during calendar year 2019.
(ii)Certification
A provider of transportation services seeking assistance under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary—
(I)documentation describing the total amount of revenue earned by the provider of transportation services during calendar year 2019; and
(II)a certification that the amount of assistance sought under this subsection, when combined with any other Federal assistance described in clause (i), does not exceed the total amount of revenue earned by the provider of transportation services during calendar year 2019.
(4)Form of assistance
The amounts made available under subsection (b) shall be provided to eligible providers of transportation services in the form of grants.
(5)Equal access
The Secretary shall ensure equal access to the assistance provided under this section to eligible providers of transportation services that are small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses.
(6)Conditions of receipt
As a condition of receipt of assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall require that a provider of transportation services shall agree—
(A)subject to paragraph (7)—
(i)to commence using the funds, on a priority basis and to the extent the funds are available, to maintain through the applicable covered period, expenditures on payroll costs for all employees as of December 27, 2020, after making any adjustments required for—
(I)retirement; or
(II)voluntary employee separation;
(ii)not to impose, during the covered period—
(I)any involuntary furlough; or
(II)any reduction in pay rates or benefits for nonexecutive employees; and
(iii)to recall or rehire any employees laid off, furloughed, or terminated after March 27, 2020, to the extent warranted by increased service levels;
(B)to return to the Secretary any funds received under this subsection that are not used by the provider of transportation services by the date that is 1 year after the date of receipt of the funds; and
(C)to examine the anticipated expenditure of the funds by the provider of transportation services for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) not less frequently than once every 90 days after the date of receipt of the funds.
(7)Ramp-up period
The requirement described in paragraph (6)(A)(iii) shall not apply to a provider of transportation services until the later of— (A)
(B)the date that is 90 days after December 27, 2020.
(8)Additional conditions of certain receipts
(A)Prioritization of payroll costs
As a condition of receipt of a grant under this subsection, the Secretary shall require that, except as provided in subparagraph (B), a provider of transportation services shall agree to use an amount equal to not less than 60 percent of the funds on payroll costs of the provider of transportation services.
(B)Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a provider of transportation services if the provider of transportation services certifies to the Secretary that, after making any adjustments required for retirement or voluntary employee separation—
(i)each nonseasonal employee on the payroll of the provider of transportation services on January 1, 2020—
(I)if laid off, furloughed, or terminated by the provider of transportation services as described in paragraph (6)(A)(iii), is rehired, or has been offered rehire, by the provider of transportation services; and
(II)if rehired under clause (i) or subject to a reduction in salary before the date of receipt by the provider of transportation services of assistance under this subsection, receives not less than 100 percent of the previous salary of the employee;
(ii)the provider of transportation services—
(I)is staffed at a level of full-time equivalent, seasonal employees, on a monthly basis, that is greater than or equivalent to the level at which the provider of transportation services was staffed with full-time equivalent, seasonal employees on a monthly basis during calendar year 2019;
(II)is offering priority in rehiring to seasonal employees that were laid off, furloughed, terminated, or not offered rehire in calendar year 2020, as the provider of transportation services achieves staffing at the level described in subclause (I); and
(III)offers any seasonal employee rehired under subclause (II) or subject to a reduction in salary before the date of receipt by the provider of transportation services of assistance under this subsection not less than 100 percent of the previous salary of the employee; and
(iii)the provider of transportation services will fully cover, through the applicable covered period, all payroll costs associated with the staffing requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii).
(9)Forms; terms and conditions
A grant provided under this section shall be in such form, subject to such terms and conditions, and contain such covenants, representations, warranties, and requirements (including requirements for audits) as the Secretary determines to be appropriate in accordance with this section.
(d)Eligible activities
(1)In general
Subject to the priority described in subsection (c)(6)(A), a provider of transportation services shall use assistance provided under subsection (c) only for— (A)
(B)the acquisition of services, equipment, including personal protective equipment, and other measures needed to protect workers and customers from COVID–19;
(C)continued operations and maintenance during the applicable covered period of existing capital equipment and facilities—
(i)including rent, leases, insurance, and interest on regularly scheduled debt service; but
(ii)not including any prepayment of, or payment of principal on, a debt obligation, except for any principal on a debt obligation accrued by the provider of transportation services directly to maintain the expenditures of the provider of transportation services on payroll costs throughout the COVID–19 pandemic; or
(D)the compensation of returning employees for lost pay and benefits during the COVID–19 pandemic, subject to subsection (e).
(2)Eligibility
The use of assistance provided under subsection (c) for the compensation of returning employees under paragraph (1)(D) shall be counted toward the required amount of grants to be used on payroll costs under subsection (c)(6)(A).
(e)Compensation of returning employees
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any compensation provided to a returning employee under subsection (d)(1)(D)—
(1)shall be offset by—
(A)any amounts received by the employee from the provider of transportation services as a result of the layoff, furlough, or termination of the employee or any failure to hire the employee for seasonal employment during calendar year 2020, including—
(i)furlough pay;
(ii)severance pay; or
(iii)separation pay; and
(B)any amounts the employee received from unemployment insurance; and
(2)shall not—
(A)be considered an overpayment for purposes of any State or Federal unemployment law; or
(B)be subject to any overpayment recovery efforts by a State agency (as defined in section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (U.S.C. 3304 note )).
(f)Administrative provisions
(1)In general
The Secretary may take such actions as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section, including—
(A)using direct hiring authority to hire employees to administer this section;
(B)entering into contracts, including contracts for services authorized by this section; and
(C)issuing such regulations and other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
(2)Administrative expenses
Of the funds made available under this section, not more than $50,000,000 may be used by the Secretary for administrative expenses to carry out this section.
(3)Availability for obligation
The funds made available under this section shall remain available for obligation until the date that is 3 years after December 27, 2020.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A)(ii)(II), (3)(B)(i), also known as the CARES Act, is Pub. L. 116–136, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 281, which enacted this chapter and enacted, amended, and repealed numerous other sections and notes in the Code. Subtitle B of title IV of division A of the Act is classified generally to part B (§ 9071 et seq.) of this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 9001 of this title and Tables. The Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(B)(ii) to (iv), is div. B of Pub. L. 116–136, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 505. Provisions in the Act relating to funds for transportation services are not classified to the Code. The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(B)(i), is Pub. L. 116–139, Apr. 24, 2020, 134 Stat. 620, which amended section 636, 9006, and 9009 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 2020 Amendment note set out under section 9001 of this title and Tables. section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(B), is section 205 of Pub. L. 91–373, which is set out as a note under section 3304 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services Act and also as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and not as part of the CARES Act which in part comprises this chapter.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 9111
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110