Bill > HR702

This bill aims to modify how the poverty line is calculated and used in the United States by introducing a "Regionally Adjusted Poverty Line" that more accurately reflects the cost of living in different states. The Bureau of the Census would develop this new index by multiplying each state's existing poverty thresholds by its Regional Price Parity (a measure of how prices differ from the national average), which would create state-specific poverty lines that better account for regional economic variations. The Secretary of Health and Human Services would then be required to determine which poverty line index (the new regional version or the current standard) has a higher poverty rate for each state and use that index for administrative purposes, such as determining eligibility for federal programs. Additionally, the bill mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, which is an alternative poverty measure developed by the United Way that considers a broader range of household necessities beyond traditional poverty metrics. The bill provides flexibility for using the new regional poverty line, particularly for Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act, and sets effective dates for implementing these changes, with the new poverty line index taking effect one year after enactment and its administrative use beginning three years after enactment.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/702/all-info