February 2, 2026
Mr. Husted (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Clawing back Lapsed Obligations from State Emergency programs Act
or the CLOSE Act
.
Sec. 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1104(a))) that were appropriated pursuant to section 2102(g)(1) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9021(g)(1)) are hereby rescinded.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.