Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
H.R. 8872119th Congress

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

Introduced in the HouseRep. Mike Carey (R-OH-15)16 sections · 2 min read
Version: Introduced in House · May 19, 2026

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act.

(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) Applicability of payment integrity law

The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 shall apply to a State in respect of the State program funded under this part in the same manner in which such Act applies to a Federal agency.

(b) Report to Congress

Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Congress a written report that contains a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by States under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act within 10 years.

Section 3. Targeting funds to families in need

Section 404 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(m) 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)).

Section 4. Deadlines for the obligation and expenditure of funds

Section 404(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(e)) is amended to read as follows:

(1) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), a State to which funds are paid, after the effective date of this subsection, under section 403(a)(1) for a fiscal year shall obligate the funds not later than the end of the succeeding fiscal year, and shall expend the funds not later than the end of the 2nd succeeding fiscal year.

(A) In general

Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, a State to which funds are paid under section 403(a)(1), after the effective date of this subsection, for a fiscal year may reserve not more than 15 percent of the funds for future use in the State program funded under this part, subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.

(B) Limitation

The total amount held in reserve by a State under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of the total amount paid to the State under section 403(a)(1) for the then preceding fiscal year.

(C) Notice of intent to reserve funds

A State that intends to reserve funds under subparagraph (A) shall notify the Secretary of the intention not later than the end of the period in which the funds are available for obligation without regard to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(a) In general

Section 404 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(n) Limitation on use of Federal funds to replace State general revenue funds

A State shall use Federal funds received under this part only to supplement funds that, in the absence of the Federal funds, would be made available from State and local sources for programs assisted under this part, and not to supplant the funds.

(b) State certification

Section 402(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(9) Certification of State supplementation

A certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the funds provided to the State under this part will not be used to supplant State or non-Federal funds for services and activities that promote the purposes of this part.

Section 6. Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2027.

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