Bill Summary & Status for the 107th Congress

NEW SEARCH | HOME | HELP
S.2648
Title: A bill to reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, improve access to quality child care, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Hutchinson, Tim [AR] (introduced 6/19/2002)      Cosponsors: 14
Latest Major Action: 6/19/2002 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Cosponsors, Summary
TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
6/19/2002:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5778-5779)
6/19/2002:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(14), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Sen Brownback, Sam - 6/25/2002 [KS] Sen Bunning, Jim - 6/24/2002 [KY]
Sen Domenici, Pete V. - 6/24/2002 [NM] Sen Enzi, Michael B. - 6/21/2002 [WY]
Sen Frist, Bill - 6/19/2002 [TN] Sen Gramm, Phil - 6/19/2002 [TX]
Sen Inhofe, Jim - 6/19/2002 [OK] Sen Kyl, Jon - 6/19/2002 [AZ]
Sen Lott, Trent - 6/19/2002 [MS] Sen Nickles, Don - 6/21/2002 [OK]
Sen Sessions, Jeff - 6/19/2002 [AL] Sen Shelby, Richard C. - 7/10/2002 [AL]
Sen Smith, Bob - 6/25/2002 [NH] Sen Thomas, Craig - 6/19/2002 [WY]

SUMMARY AS OF:
6/19/2002--Introduced.

Working Toward Independence Act of 2002 - Amends title IV (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to reauthorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to award state family assistance grants.

Authorizes States to use grants for healthy marriage promotion activities and requires the Secretary to make bonus grants to each State that has achieved formulated employment goals.

Revises requirements for the consideration of certain child care expenditures in determining State compliance with contingency fund requirements.

Revises State work participation requirements, incorporating a 40-hour work week standard.

Revises requirements for the use of TANF grants. Repeals the Secretary's authority to make loans to State welfare programs and revises State work participation requirements.

Authorizes the Secretary to develop TANF performance measures. Makes appropriations for research, demonstrations, and technical assistance.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit community entities for demonstration projects to test the effectiveness of various approaches to create a Fatherhood Program.

Permits States the option to make TANF programs mandatory partners with one-stop employment training centers.

Reauthorizes funding for State child care entitlement programs and revises State requirements for child support payments.

Amends SSA title XI (General Provisions) to eliminate specified limitations on the Secretary's authority to approve demonstration projects and grant waivers.

Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to require the Commissioner of Social Security to review State agency blindness and disability determinations.

Authorizes the administering Secretary to authorize innovative State demonstration projects involving individual programs, or integrating multiple public assistance, employment security, and other programs to support working families.

Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require the Secretary to establish a program to make grants to States to provide food assistance and funds to operate employment and training programs for needy individuals.

Extends abstinence education funding and reauthorizes transitional medical assistance.