Bill > HR7367

This bill, titled the "TANF Hygiene Access Act," establishes a demonstration pilot program to explore new ways of using funds and measuring success for initiatives that help low-income households get essential hygiene items. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Office of Family Assistance, will oversee this program, which defines "hygiene materials" broadly to include items like soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and laundry detergent. States, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations can apply for grants to run these initiatives, with applications being reviewed competitively based on factors like the strength of the initiative's design, its capacity to serve people, partnerships with basic needs organizations, readiness for evaluation, cost-effectiveness, past performance in related programs, and geographic diversity. Grant funds can only be used to provide hygiene materials, with a limit of 15 percent for administrative costs, and recipients must report on key indicators like the number of families and materials served. The program is funded with significant appropriations over five years, and by the fifth year, the Secretary will report to Congress on the program's evaluation and the feasibility of expanding it nationwide.