The Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act seeks to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It mandates that states apply the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to their TANF programs, requiring them to identify, measure, and report improper payments. Furthermore, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a plan within one year to significantly reduce or eliminate these improper payments within a decade. To ensure funds reach those most in need, the legislation establishes an income threshold, requiring states to use TANF grants only for families whose income is less than twice the federal poverty guidelines . It also introduces strict deadlines for states to obligate funds by the end of the succeeding fiscal year and expend them by the end of the second succeeding fiscal year, though a limited amount can be reserved for future use. Crucially, the bill prohibits states from using federal TANF funds to supplant their own state and local spending, requiring a certification from the chief executive officer to ensure federal funds supplement existing efforts.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
Congressional oversightGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsPoverty and welfare assistanceState and local financeState and local government operations
Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
USA119th CongressHR-8872| House
| Updated: 6/3/2026
The Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act seeks to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It mandates that states apply the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to their TANF programs, requiring them to identify, measure, and report improper payments. Furthermore, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a plan within one year to significantly reduce or eliminate these improper payments within a decade. To ensure funds reach those most in need, the legislation establishes an income threshold, requiring states to use TANF grants only for families whose income is less than twice the federal poverty guidelines . It also introduces strict deadlines for states to obligate funds by the end of the succeeding fiscal year and expend them by the end of the second succeeding fiscal year, though a limited amount can be reserved for future use. Crucially, the bill prohibits states from using federal TANF funds to supplant their own state and local spending, requiring a certification from the chief executive officer to ensure federal funds supplement existing efforts.
Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better
Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
Congressional oversightGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsPoverty and welfare assistanceState and local financeState and local government operations