Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2242
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Social Welfare
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-21: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-01T12:12:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act aims to improve oversight of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by requiring states to measure and reduce improper payments—such as overpayments, underpayments, or payments to ineligible recipients—and to combat fraud. TANF provides block grants to states to support low-income families with children through cash assistance and related services.
Key Provisions
- Application of Federal Payment Integrity Rules: Adds a new subsection to Section 404 of the Social Security Act, making the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 apply to states administering TANF programs. This requires states to identify, report, and reduce improper payments in the same way federal agencies must.
- Effective Date: The new requirements take effect on October 1, 2026.
- Congressional Report: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must submit a report to Congress outlining a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments in TANF programs over the next 10 years.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces state-level accountability under the Payment Integrity Information Act, which previously applied only to federal agencies. This extends federal standards for tracking and minimizing payment errors to state-run TANF programs, without altering the core structure of TANF block grants.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS will need to develop and monitor a long-term plan for reducing improper payments, potentially increasing administrative workload. States may face new reporting and compliance burdens, leading to better data collection on program efficiency.
- On Citizens: Could ensure that TANF funds—intended for needy families—are distributed more accurately, reducing waste and potentially increasing aid availability for eligible recipients. Taxpayers may benefit from lower fraud-related losses.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic welfare program.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- States: Primary administrators of TANF, now subject to enhanced federal oversight and reporting on payments.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Responsible for guiding implementation and submitting the required plan to Congress.
- TANF Recipients: Low-income families relying on the program, who may see more reliable support if fraud is reduced.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Gain tools for accountability, potentially leading to more efficient use of federal funds.
- Program Administrators: State and federal officials handling welfare services, who must adapt to new measurement and reduction goals.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens program integrity without expanding federal control over state block grants, aligning with existing federalism in welfare policy. The Payment Integrity Information Act's application may require states to update their auditing processes, but it does not impose new penalties beyond reporting.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it operates within Congress's spending power under the Constitution to regulate federal grants.
- Political: Promotes fiscal responsibility and anti-fraud measures, which could appeal across party lines by focusing on efficient use of public funds, though states might view added requirements as increasing bureaucratic hurdles.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-21: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-03-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act — issued 2025-03-21 — PDF (2 pages)