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Targeting TANF to Families in Need Act
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to families in need.
Summary
This bill amends the Social Security Act to establish an income eligibility threshold for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grants. Under the bill, states receiving TANF funding must use those grants only to provide assistance or services to families whose income is below twice the federal poverty guidelines. The poverty guidelines threshold will be updated periodically as published in the Federal Register. The amendment takes effect on October 1, 2026.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE)
1 cosponsor
Actions (2)
- Mar 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. · house
- Mar 27, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2025
Mr. Smith of Nebraska (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to families in need.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Targeting TANF to Families in Need Act”.
SEC. 2. TARGETING FUNDS TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
(a) In General.—Section 404 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
604) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(l) Establishing a Threshold for Families in Need.—A State to which a grant is made under section 403(a)(1) shall use the grant only to provide assistance or services to a family whose income is less than twice the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register under section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).”.
(b) Effective Date.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2026. <all>
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