Bill > HR2108

This bill addresses potential misuse of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds by establishing new oversight and enforcement mechanisms. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a monitoring framework for tracking how subrecipients (typically state and local agencies) use TANF funds, with the goal of identifying intentional misuse. The bill creates a new TANF Program Integrity Unit within the Administration for Children & Families and allocates $10 million annually to support its operations. If intentional misuse of funds is discovered, the Secretary must notify the state and require the state to reinvest an amount equal to the misused funds directly into cash assistance for families below the poverty line. Additionally, the bill enhances existing penalties for intentional violations, allowing for more stringent consequences when states or subrecipients improperly use TANF funds. The provisions will take effect either on the first day of the fifth calendar quarter after enactment or the first day of the next federal fiscal year, and the Department of Health and Human Services must publish rulemaking guidance within two years of the bill's enactment.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2108/all-info