H.R. 2584: Protect TANF Resources for Families Act

This bill is titled the Protect TANF Resources for Families Act, and it proposes changes related to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The key aspects of the bill are as follows:

Prohibition on State Use of Federal Funds

The bill aims to enforce a rule that prevents states from using federal funds provided for TANF as a substitute for state funds. Specifically, it states that:

• States must use federal funds only to supplement their own funds for TANF programs. They cannot use these federal funds to replace the funding that they would typically allocate from their own budgets.
• States are required to certify that the federal TANF funds will not supplant state or non-federal funds that are intended to support TANF-related services and activities.

State Certification Requirement

The bill introduces a new requirement for states to certify that federal funds will genuinely add to state spending on TANF, rather than replace local or state funds. This certification must come from the chief executive officer of the state.

Effective Date

The proposed amendments outlined in the bill would take effect starting on October 1, 2025.

Two-Year Reauthorization of TANF

The bill also includes provisions to reauthorize the TANF program for an additional two years, ensuring that activities funded under this program will continue through September 30, 2026. This continuation would be funded through federal appropriations as necessary, consistent with funding levels from fiscal year 2023.

Relevant Companies

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