S 2628 IS
107th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2628
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to require a
State to promote financial education under the temporary assistance to needy
families program and to allow financial education to count as a work activity
under that program.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 17, 2002
Mr. CORZINE (for himself, Mr. TORRICELLI, and Mr. KENNEDY) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to require a
State to promote financial education under the temporary assistance to needy
families program and to allow financial education to count as a work activity
under that program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `TANF Financial Education Promotion Act of
2002'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Most recipients of assistance under the temporary assistance to
needy families program established under part A of title IV of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) and individuals moving toward
self-sufficiency operate outside the financial mainstream, paying high costs
to handle their finances and saving little for emergencies or the
future.
(2) Currently, personal debt levels and bankruptcy filing rates are high
and savings rates are at their lowest levels in 70 years. The inability of
many households to budget, save, and invest prevents them from laying the
foundation for a secure financial future.
(3) Financial planning can help families meet near-term obligations and
maximize their longer-term well being, especially valuable for populations
that have traditionally been underserved by our financial system.
(4) Financial education can give individuals the necessary financial
tools to create household budgets, initiate savings plans, and acquire
assets.
(5) Financial education can prevent vulnerable customers from becoming
entangled in financially devastating credit arrangements.
(6) Financial education that addresses abusive lending practices
targeted at specific neighborhoods or vulnerable segments of the population
can prevent unaffordable payments, equity stripping, and foreclosure.
(7) Financial education speaks to the broader purpose of the temporary
assistance to needy families program to equip individuals with the tools to
succeed and support themselves and their families in self-sufficiency.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO PROMOTE FINANCIAL EDUCATION UNDER TANF.
(a) STATE PLAN- Section 402(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
602(a)(1)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`(vii) Establish goals and take action to promote financial
education, as defined in section 407(j), among parents and caretakers
receiving assistance under the program through collaboration with
community-based organizations, financial institutions, and the
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the
Department of Agriculture.'.
(b) INCLUSION OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION AS A WORK ACTIVITY- Section 407 of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C 607) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking `or (12)' and inserting `(12), or
(13)'; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking `or (12)' and inserting `(12), or
(13)';
(A) in paragraph (11), by striking `and' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting `; and';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
`(13) financial education, as defined in subsection (j).'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(j) DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL EDUCATION- In this part, the term `financial
education' means education that promotes an understanding of consumer,
economic, and personal finance concepts, including the basic principles
involved with earning, budgeting, spending, saving, investing, and
taxation.'.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section take effect on
October 1, 2002.
END