Press Releases

Congressman Russell Fry's Grant Transparency Act Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) announced his Grant Transparency Act of 2023 has now been signed into law by the President of the United States. 

The Grant Transparency Act requires government agencies to disclose their selection methods for awarding competitive grants. Federal grants are critical to state and local governments across the country, as well as many organizations. Applying for federal grants can be a complicated process and grant applicants are often left wondering why they were or were not chosen for an award. This legislation addresses this by clarifying the award selection criteria within the grant application process. 

Specifically, the Grant Transparency Act of 2023 requires the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for competitive grants to have: 

1. a description of any rating system, evaluation, and selection criteria the agency uses to assess applications for the competitive grant;
2. a statement of whether the agency uses a weighted scoring method and a description of any weighted scoring method the agency uses for the competitive grant, including the amount by which the agency weights each criterion; and 
3. any other qualitative or quantitative merit-based approach the agency uses to evaluate an application for the competitive grant.

"The passage of the Grant Transparency Act marks a significant step toward leveling the playing field for local governments and organizations seeking federal grant funding," said Congressman Russell Fry. "With this legislation now signed into law, we can ensure that applicants will not be left in the dark about how their submissions are evaluated. This legislation brings much-needed clarity and accountability to the federal grant process, empowering local governments and organizations to access the resources they need to succeed. I'm proud to have led this effort and look forward to seeing its positive impact across South Carolina and the nation."

The Grant Transparency Act is co-led by Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). Companion legislation was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Gary Peters (D-MI). 

Congressman Fry serves on both the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight Committee and is also the Republican freshman class president. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.

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