H.R. 8872 — Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
Executive Summary
H.R. 8872, the 'Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act,' imposes stricter guardrails on how states administer Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants. Driven by concerns over high-profile state-level misuse of TANF funds, the bill mandates that funds only go to families earning under 200% of the federal poverty line, applies federal payment integrity laws to state TANF programs, and strictly prohibits states from using federal TANF dollars to supplant state general revenue. It also tightens timelines for states to obligate and expend funds, limiting the amount they can hoard in reserve to 50% of their preceding year's grant.
Arguments For
- Fiscal Responsibility & Anti-Corruption: Directly addresses state-level TANF scandals (e.g., Mississippi) by ensuring federal welfare dollars actually reach the poorest families rather than being diverted to pet projects or plugging state budget holes.
- Program Integrity: Applying the Payment Integrity Information Act forces states to measure and report improper payments, creating a data trail that conservatives can use to demand further welfare reforms and oversight.
- Ending State Hoarding: Tightening obligation and expenditure deadlines prevents states from sitting on massive unspent TANF reserves while vulnerable populations go unserved.
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Loss of State Flexibility: The 200% FPL cap and strict anti-supplantation rules severely restrict the flexibility that was the hallmark of the 1996 welfare reform, potentially forcing states to cut broader community services currently funded by TANF.
- Administrative Burden: Requiring states to comply with federal payment integrity laws and track anti-supplantation metrics will increase bureaucratic overhead for state agencies.
- Potential Service Cuts: States that currently use TANF to fund child welfare, pre-K, or other broad social services for families above 200% FPL will face immediate funding cliffs.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Applies the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to state TANF programs and requires HHS to submit a 10-year plan to eliminate improper payments.
- Restricts TANF assistance and services exclusively to families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Requires states to obligate funds by the end of the succeeding fiscal year and expend them by the end of the second succeeding fiscal year.
- Caps the amount of TANF funds a state can hold in reserve at 15% annually, with a total reserve cap of 50% of the preceding year's grant.
- Prohibits states from using federal TANF funds to supplant state or local spending, requiring formal certification from the state's chief executive officer.
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Requires HHS to submit a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments within 10 years.
"plan to reduce or eliminate improper"
Restricts TANF funds to families earning less than twice the poverty guidelines.
"income is less than twice the pov"
Caps the total amount a state can hold in reserve at 50 percent of the preceding year's grant.
"shall not exceed an amount equal"
Prohibits states from using federal funds to supplant state and local funds.
"and not to supplant the"