MORE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5384
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-26T15:01:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone Act" (MORE Act), H.R. 5384, aims to prioritize applicants for Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) under Section 2008 of the Social Security Act. These grants support training programs in health professions for low-income individuals, such as recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The legislation encourages stronger partnerships between grant applicants and businesses, community organizations, and government entities to enhance program effectiveness.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is titled the "Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone Act" or "MORE Act."
- Amendment to Grant Process: Adds a new subsection (c) to Section 2008 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397g), requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give preference to grant applications from organizations that partner with entities in three categories:
- State and local government agencies and social service providers, including those administering TANF programs (which provide cash assistance to low-income families).
- Institutions of higher education, apprenticeship programs, and local workforce development boards (groups that coordinate job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act).
- Health care employers, industry or sector partnerships (collaborative groups in the health field), labor unions, and labor-management partnerships (joint employer-worker groups).
- Redesignation of Subsections: Existing subsections (c) and (d) are renumbered as (d) and (e) to accommodate the new preference rule.
- Effective Date: Changes take effect on October 1, 2025.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a formal preference system for HPOG grant awards, which previously lacked a mandated priority for applicants based on specific partnerships.
- Shifts the evaluation process to favor collaborative applications, potentially making it easier for organizations with established networks to secure funding while encouraging others to build such partnerships.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will need to adjust its grant review criteria, possibly increasing administrative workload to verify partnerships but streamlining awards to more connected applicants.
- Citizens: Low-income individuals, particularly TANF recipients, may gain better access to health profession training (e.g., jobs as nurses or medical assistants) through programs with robust support networks, potentially leading to higher employment rates and economic mobility.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation focuses on domestic workforce development.
- Overall, it could strengthen job placement outcomes by linking training to real-world employers and community resources, though funding availability remains tied to annual appropriations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Grant Applicants: Primarily nonprofit organizations, community colleges, and workforce agencies applying for HPOG funds.
- Partnership Entities: State/local governments, social service providers, educational institutions, workforce boards, health care employers, industry groups, and labor organizations, who benefit from preferred status when collaborating.
- Low-Income Individuals: TANF recipients and other eligible trainees, who stand to gain from improved program quality and job connections.
- Health Care Sector: Employers and unions, potentially seeing a more skilled workforce pipeline.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The amendment is straightforward and builds on existing grant authority under the Social Security Act, with no apparent conflicts; it promotes equity in grant distribution without mandating partnerships, preserving applicant flexibility.
- Constitutional: No significant issues, as it involves federal spending on social welfare programs, which is within Congress's spending power under Article I.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan goals of workforce development and poverty reduction by incentivizing public-private partnerships, potentially appealing to supporters of job training initiatives; it may face scrutiny over whether preferences disadvantage smaller or rural applicants without strong networks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Making Opportunities Reachable for Everyone Act — issued 2025-09-16 — PDF (3 pages)