I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9701 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program whereby 
the Secretary shall convey certain Federal land to individuals who perma-
nently waive eligibility for certain welfare programs, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 30, 2022 
Mr. GOHMERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Ways 
and Means, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Edu-
cation and Labor, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program 
whereby the Secretary shall convey certain Federal land 
to individuals who permanently waive eligibility for cer-
tain welfare programs, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Welfare Reform Act 
of 2022’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to help break the chain 
of a lifetime on welfare and give such a bold step up that 
it will start recipients on the road to success and independ-
ence. 
SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a program whereby the Secretary shall convey 
Federal land under the administrative jurisdiction of the 
Bureau of Land Management to each covered individual 
who— 
(1) applies for and is approved for participation 
in the Program; and 
(2) permanently waives eligibility for certain 
Federal welfare programs pursuant to subsection 
(d). 
(b) LAND TO BE CONVEYED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the limitations in 
paragraph (2), the Secretary shall determine the 
amount and location of Federal land under the ad-
ministrative jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land 
Management to be conveyed to each covered indi-
vidual who is approved for participation in the Pro-
gram. 
(2) LIMITATIONS.— 
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(A) TYPE OF LAND.—In carrying out the 
Program, the Secretary may only convey land 
to a covered individual for one of the following 
purposes: 
(i) Residential purposes. 
(ii) Agricultural purposes. 
(B) RESIDENTIAL LAND.—In the case of 
residential land (land to be conveyed under the 
Program to be used for residential purposes), 
the Secretary may only convey to each covered 
individual land that is— 
(i) not more than 1 acre; and 
(ii) contiguous. 
(C) AGRICULTURAL LAND.—In the case of 
agricultural land (land to be conveyed under the 
Program to be used for agricultural purposes), 
the Secretary may only convey to each covered 
individual land— 
(i) that is not more than 50 acres; 
(ii) that is contiguous; and 
(iii) at least 50 percent of which is 
suitable for farming. 
(D) NON-USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—A covered indi-
vidual that receives agricultural land under 
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the Program shall, with respect to the por-
tions of such land that are suitable for 
farming, use the land for agricultural pur-
poses for at least 10 years after receiving 
the land. 
(ii) REVERTER.—If a covered indi-
vidual fails to use agricultural land for ag-
ricultural purposes as described in clause 
(i), all of the agricultural land conveyed to 
such covered individual under the Program 
shall— 
(I) revert to the United States 
for administration by the Secretary; 
and 
(II) be made available for convey-
ance to another covered individual 
under the Program. 
(iii) CONTINUED
ELIGIBILITY
FOR 
THE
PROGRAM.—If agricultural land re-
verts to the Secretary under clause (ii), 
after the 3-year period beginning on the 
date of such reversion, the covered indi-
vidual to whom the reversion applies may 
apply for, and receive, residential land 
under the Program. 
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(c) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered individual seeking 
to participate in the Program shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(2) AVAILABILITY
OF
LAND.—The Secretary 
shall make available to covered individuals approved 
for participation in the Program a list of available 
land, including copies of the deeds to such land. 
(3) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall have 
final discretion as to the allocation of land to cov-
ered individuals participating in the Program, but 
shall provide such covered individuals a means by 
which to express their preference for available land 
listed pursuant to paragraph (2), including whether 
the land will be used for residential or agricultural 
purposes. 
(d) ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL WELFARE 
PROGRAMS WAIVED.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, upon receiving land under the Program, a cov-
ered individual waives eligibility for, and may not receive 
benefits from, the following welfare programs: 
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(1) The supplemental nutrition assistance pro-
gram under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.). 
(2) The special supplemental nutrition program 
for women, infants, and children under section 17 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786). 
(3) The emergency food assistance program 
under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 
(7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.). 
(4) The program of block grants to States for 
temporary assistance for needy families under part 
A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
601 et seq.). 
(5) Programs or activities funded through the 
block grant program under title V of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.). 
(6) The tax credit allowable under section 32 of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 
(7) The National Family Planning Program 
(title X of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300 et seq.; relating to family planning). 
(8) The Community Development Block Grant 
program under title I of the Housing and Commu-
nity Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et 
seq.). 
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(9) The Project-Based Rental Assistance pro-
gram under section 8 of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f). 
(10) The Housing Choice Voucher program 
under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)). 
(11) The weatherization assistance program es-
tablished under part A of title IV of the Energy 
Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 
et seq.). 
(12) Programs and activities carried out under 
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.). 
(13) The education of migratory children pro-
gram authorized under part C of title I of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6391 et seq.). 
(14) The refugee assistance program authorized 
under chapter 2 of title IV of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.). 
(e) PROGRAM COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall 
update the head of each Federal department or agency 
with administrative jurisdiction over a welfare program 
described in subsection (d) of the following: 
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for the welfare programs described in subsection (d), 
unless such survivor participates in the Program. 
(g) TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR MARRIED COVERED IN-
DIVIDUALS.—In the case of married covered individual 
who participates in the Program, section 32 of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied by treating any 
income of such individual which would otherwise be earned 
income (within the meaning of such section) as other than 
earned income. 
(h) SALE OF LAND PROHIBITED FOR 10 YEARS.— 
Federal land conveyed under this section may not be sold 
for the 10-year period immediately following the convey-
ance of that land and the deed conveying such land shall 
include a provision stating the same. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) COVERED INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘‘covered 
individual’’ means an individual who is— 
(A) a citizen of the United States; 
(B) 21 years of age or older; and 
(C) notwithstanding the restrictions set 
forth in this Act, eligible to receive benefits 
under a welfare program described in sub-
section (d). 
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (a). 
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(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bu-
reau of Land Management. 
Æ 
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