Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

Summary

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act This bill limits how and when states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and establishes an eligibility threshold for all TANF-funded assistance and services. Currently, each state sets its own eligibility threshold for TANF-funded cash assistance. The bill establishes an upper limit on eligibility applicable to all assistance and services (including non-cash benefits) funded by TANF family assistance grants. Under this provision, only families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may receive TANF-funded assistance and services. Further, the bill generally requires states to obligate TANF funds by the end of the fiscal year after they are paid and to spend funds by the end of the second fiscal year after they are paid. However, states may reserve a specified portion of their TANF funds for future use. (There is currently no requirement to use TANF funds within a specified period.) The bill also explicitly requires states to use federal TANF funds to supplement, not replace, state and local funding for TANF-supported programs. (Current law requires states to spend a specified minimum amount on TANF-eligible activities and populations, known as the maintenance of effort requirement.) States must also take specified steps to track and report on improper payments of federal funds (e.g., overpayments, underpayments, payments to ineligible recipients). Within one year of enactment, HHS must submit to Congress a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by states under the TANF program within 10 years.

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Timeline

1. 19 May 2026

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 19 May 2026

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 19 May 2026

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 21 May 2026

   Vote

   Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.

   Source: Committee

5. 21 May 2026

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

6. 29 May 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.

   Source: Committee

7. 29 May 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.

   Source: Committee

8. 29 May 2026

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.

   Source: Calendars

9. 3 June 2026

   Floor

   The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

   Source: Floor

10. 3 June 2026

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.

    Source: Floor

11. 3 June 2026

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)

    Source: Floor

12. 3 June 2026

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.

    Source: Floor

13. 3 June 2026

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

• Reported in House

  Reported in House · EN · 29 May 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to House

  summary · EN · 29 May 2026

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 19 May 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

Sponsors

• Mike Carey · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4] · R · Sponsor
• Max Miller · R · Sponsor
• Adrian Smith · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] · R · Sponsor
• Blake Moore · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] · R · Cosponsor
• · hswm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act
• related to → Improve Transparency and Stability for Families and Children Act
• related to ← Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8646) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7726) to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to withhold funds from noncompliant States under such Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7892) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8872) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.