U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) on Feb. 14 sponsored three separate bills to reform the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) state block grant program, which helps America’s disadvantaged families become independent.
“The primary goal of the TANF program is to assist families in need with a hand-up, providing a safety net of government assistance to find work and pull themselves out of poverty,” Rep. LaHood said on Feb. 20. “For the first time ever we have over seven million unfilled jobs in this country and these bills will ensure that the TANF program prioritizes workforce development while providing individuals access to the necessary resources to find and keep a job,” the congressman said.
Rep. LaHood introduced the Improving Access to Child Care Act, H.R. 1245, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN). The two members also introduced the Improving Access to Work Act, H.R. 1246. Finally, Rep. LaHood introduced the Supporting Work Through Apprenticeships Act, H.R. 1247, with cosponsors U.S. Reps. Walorski and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH).
Together, the three bills are designed to bolster TANF programs by expanding avenues to promote work, participation in apprenticeship programs, and better child care services, according to Rep. LaHood.
The three “common-sense pieces of legislation will capitalize on our strong economy and ensure the TANF program works better for the people it serves,” he added.
According to summaries of the bills provided by Rep. LaHood’s office, the Improving Access to Work Act would require states to spend 25 percent of their federally required Maintenance-of-Effort funds and 25 percent of their federal TANF block grant on work or work support activities and would prohibit states from using TANF federal funds to fill state budget gaps.
The Supporting Work Through Apprenticeships Act would categorize apprenticeships as a work activity, joining the list of current work activities, which include on-the-job training, job readiness assistance, vocational educational training, and community service, according to the bill’s summary.
And the Improving Access to Child Care Act would “eliminate the $608 million contingency fund and provide the funds for child care,” according to LaHood’s office, and the monies then would be distributed to all 50 states for child care purposes.
All three bills have been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, while H.R. 1247 also is under review by the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.