Bill > HR8872

This bill, titled the "Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act," aims to improve the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by strengthening program integrity and ensuring funds are used effectively. Key provisions include applying the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to state TANF programs, which requires states to measure and report on improper payments, similar to federal agencies. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will also be required to submit a plan to Congress within a year to reduce or eliminate these improper payments over ten years. Furthermore, the bill mandates that states use TANF grants only for families with incomes below twice the federal poverty guidelines, ensuring funds are targeted to those most in need. It also revises deadlines for how states must obligate and spend TANF funds, generally requiring them to be spent within two years of receipt, with a limited exception allowing states to reserve up to 15% for future use, capped at 50% of the previous year's allocation. Finally, the bill prohibits states from using federal TANF funds to replace their own spending on these programs, requiring them to supplement, not supplant, state and local funds, and mandates certification from the state's chief executive officer to confirm this. These changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2027.