I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6949 
To establish a pilot program in which States may use consolidated funds, 
through Upward Mobility Grants, for antipoverty programs, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2026 
Mr. MOORE of Utah introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
Financial Services, Agriculture, Education and Workforce, and Energy 
and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a pilot program in which States may use consoli-
dated funds, through Upward Mobility Grants, for anti-
poverty 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 ‘‘Upward Mobility Act 
of 2026’’. 
SEC. 2. CONSOLIDATION OF ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) ANTIPOVERTY
OBJECTIVES.—The term 
‘‘antipoverty objectives’’ means the objectives de-
scribed in subsection (b)(2). 
(2) ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘anti-
poverty program’’ means the set of activities for 
which a covered amount may be used. 
(3) COVERED AMOUNT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph 
(B), 
the 
term 
‘‘covered 
amount’’ 
means— 
(i) an amount that a State is eligible 
to receive in Federal funds, through a 
grant, contract, or other payment— 
(I) under subsection (a) or (h) of 
section 16 of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2025) (relating 
to the supplemental nutrition assist-
ance program); 
(II) for benefits (as defined in 
section 3 of the Food and Nutrition 
Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2012)) for par-
ticipants of the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program established under 
the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) pursuant to 
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section 4(a)(1) of that Act (7 U.S.C. 
2013(a)(1)); 
(III) under paragraph (1) or (2) 
of section 403(a) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)) (relating 
to the temporary assistance for needy 
families program State family assist-
ance grant); 
(IV) under section 658O(b) of 
the Child Care and Development 
Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
9858m(b)), 
from 
amounts 
appro-
priated under that Act or under sec-
tion 418(a)(3)(A) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 618(a)(3)(A)) (re-
lating to a program of child care serv-
ices); 
(V) under section 2604 (other 
than subsection (e)), 2607A, 2607B, 
or 2609A of the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 
U.S.C. 
8623, 
8626a, 
8626b, 
or 
8628a) (relating to programs of home 
energy assistance); 
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(VI) under section 132(b)(2)(B) 
or section 170 of the Workforce Inno-
vation and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3171(b)(2)(B), 3225) (relating 
to assistance for dislocated workers); 
and 
(VII) under subsection (b) or (d) 
of section 106 of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1974 
(42 U.S.C. 5306) (relating to commu-
nity development); 
(ii) the amount that public housing 
agencies, as defined in section 3(b) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437a(b)), located in a State are 
eligible to receive through allocations— 
(I) under section 8(o) of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) for tenant-based 
assistance; and 
(II) under section 9 of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1437g) for public housing 
from the Capital Fund and Operating 
Fund; and 
(iii) the amount that persons and 
families located in a State (other than 
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members of an Indian tribe) are eligible to 
receive in Federal assistance under section 
521 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
U.S.C. 1490a). 
(B) 
RULE.—The 
term 
‘‘covered 
amount’’— 
(i) includes an amount described in 
subparagraph (A) whether or not the State 
or public housing agency involved is di-
rected to use the amount to provide fund-
ing for localities or other entities under 
Federal law, subject to clause (ii); and 
(ii) does not include any amount de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) that a State 
or public housing agency is so directed to 
use to provide funding for an Indian tribe. 
(4) DIRECT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS.—The term 
‘‘direct assistance benefits’’ means— 
(A) nutrition (including food) benefits; 
(B) cash benefits for low-income families 
and individuals; 
(C) child care subsidies; 
(D) home energy (including utility) assist-
ance; 
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(E) employment and training services pro-
vided directly to a dislocated worker; and 
(F) housing (including rent) subsidies. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 
U.S.C. 5304). 
(6) MARGINAL
EFFECTIVE
TAX
RATE.—The 
term ‘‘Marginal Effective Tax Rate’’, used with re-
spect to an individual, means the percentage of an 
increase in earned income attributable to the individ-
ual’s employment, as determined for a State under 
subsection (j)(2), that is offset by— 
(A) the combined reduction or loss in value 
of per-capita direct assistance for the indi-
vidual; and 
(B) the combined increase in Federal, 
State, and local income and payroll taxes for 
the individual. 
(7) PER-CAPITA
DIRECT
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘per-capita direct assistance’’, used with re-
spect to a State, means— 
(A) the total amount of Federal funding 
used in a pilot project in any year for direct as-
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sistance benefits from the funding sources listed 
in paragraph (3); divided by 
(B) the population of the State. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families. 
(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 
the several States of the United States, and the Dis-
trict of Columbia. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to achieve the goals of— 
(A) streamlining service delivery and re-
ducing inconsistent eligibility requirements and 
benefit cliffs through pilot projects promoting 
antipoverty objectives; 
(B) promoting upward mobility through 
improved employment outcomes described in 
subsection (j)(2)(B), including increased em-
ployment and earnings, among participants in a 
pilot project; and 
(C) providing incentives to States to re-
duce dependence on per-capita direct assistance 
through the pilot projects by enabling individ-
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uals to achieve the improved employment out-
comes; and 
(2) to accomplish those goals by authorizing 
States to apply to receive Upward Mobility Grants 
for the purpose of carrying out a pilot project to 
promote antipoverty objectives, consisting of— 
(A) reduced benefit cliffs through benefit 
structures that limit Marginal Effective Tax 
Rates; and 
(B) increased levels of employment and 
earnings among participants in programs cov-
ered by the pilot project, skills acquisition, 
housing (including rental housing) affordability, 
access to nutrition, reduced home energy costs, 
affordable child care, and temporary assistance 
to low-income families. 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a pilot 
program through which the Secretary may— 
(A) permit not more than 5 States to carry 
out pilot projects; and 
(B) consolidate funding from antipoverty 
programs into Upward Mobility Grants made 
under subsection (d)(1), and make those grants 
to the States to carry out the projects. 
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(2) LIMITED SCOPE PILOT PROJECTS.—A State 
may elect to seek such permission and consolidated 
funding to carry out a limited scope pilot project de-
scribed in the State’s application under subsection 
(f). 
(3) DURATION.—The Secretary shall provide 
the permission and grants described in this sub-
section for a pilot project for a single period of 5 
years. 
(d) UPWARD MOBILITY GRANTS.— 
(1) PILOT
PROJECT
GRANT
AMOUNTS.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of Federal law ap-
plicable to an antipoverty program, except as other-
wise provided in this section, for each fiscal year of 
the pilot project period applicable to a pilot project 
approved for a State pursuant to subsection (g), the 
Secretary shall make an Upward Mobility Grant to 
the State, as calculated under paragraph (2), for 
purposes of carrying out the project for that fiscal 
year. 
(2) CALCULATION.— 
(A) FIRST YEAR.—For the first fiscal year 
of the pilot project, the Secretary shall make an 
Upward Mobility Grant to the State, in a sum 
calculated as the total of the covered amounts 
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received by the State, for the preceding fiscal 
year, adjusted by the percentage change in the 
Personal 
Consumption 
Expenditures 
Price 
Index of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of 
the Department of Commerce for such pre-
ceding fiscal year. 
(B) SUBSEQUENT YEARS.—For each fiscal 
year of the pilot project (referred to in this sub-
paragraph as a ‘‘target fiscal year’’) after the 
first fiscal year described in subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary shall make an Upward Mobility 
Grant to the State, in an updated sum equal to 
the sum calculated for the State under this 
paragraph for the preceding fiscal year, ad-
justed— 
(i) by the percentage change in that 
Personal Consumption Expenditures Price 
Index between the first day of the pre-
ceding fiscal year and the first day of the 
target fiscal year; and 
(ii) in a manner consistent with the 
per-capita direct assistance adjustment 
prohibition described in subsection (k). 
(C) ADJUSTMENT
FOR
APPROPRIATIONS 
LAPSE.— 
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(i) FIRST YEAR.—For the purposes of 
determining, under subparagraph (A), a 
total of covered amounts for a preceding 
fiscal year in which there was a lapse in 
appropriations, the total of the covered 
amounts shall be determined as if the cor-
responding funding was appropriated for 
the entire fiscal year. 
(ii) SUBSEQUENT
YEARS.—For the 
purposes of determining, under subpara-
graph (B), a sum calculated for a State for 
a preceding fiscal year in which there was 
a lapse in appropriations, the sum shall be 
determined as if the corresponding funding 
was appropriated for the entire fiscal year. 
(D) LIMITED SCOPE PILOT PROJECTS.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if 
a State has obtained approval to carry out a 
limited scope pilot project under this section, 
the Upward Mobility Grant for the State shall 
be a percentage, between 10 and 100 percent, 
as indicated by the State in the application sub-
mitted under subsection (f) of the amount the 
State would otherwise receive under subpara-
graph (A) or (B). 
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(3) PAYMENTS.—For each fiscal year quarter 
during the pilot project, the Secretary shall make a 
payment to the State under the Upward Mobility 
Grant, equal to 25 percent of the amount of the 
grant. 
(e) IMPACT OF PARTICIPATION.— 
(1) WAIVER.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of Federal law applicable to an antipoverty pro-
gram, except as otherwise provided in this section, if 
a State elects to carry out a pilot project and ob-
tains approval of an application under subsection 
(g), the Secretary shall, subject to paragraph (2) 
and consistent with the goals of the antipoverty pro-
grams included in the pilot project, grant the State, 
for purposes of the pilot project, such waivers to 
statutory or regulatory requirements, as the State 
requests in its application— 
(A) relating to consolidating, replacing, or 
altering eligibility requirements; 
(B) relating to the design, operation, or 
delivery of an antipoverty program; and 
(C) relating to the use, allocation, or dis-
tribution of funding. 
(2) PROVISIONS EXCLUDED FROM WAIVER AU-
THORITY.—A waiver shall not be granted under 
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paragraph (1) with respect to any provision of law 
relating to— 
(A) the goals of any antipoverty program; 
(B) civil rights or the prohibition of dis-
crimination; 
(C) health or safety; 
(D) labor standards under the Fair Labor 
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.); 
(E) environmental protection; 
(F) any restriction on providing benefits to 
individuals who are not citizens of or are unlaw-
fully present in the United States; 
(G) the protection of religious freedom for 
providers and beneficiaries of assistance; 
(H) any funding restriction or limitation 
provided in an appropriations Act; 
(I) a maintenance of effort requirement; or 
(J) any requirement that a State distribute 
to a sub-State entity part or all of an amount 
paid to the State. 
(3) HOUSING PROGRAMS.—Funds made avail-
able under a pilot project for the goals of an anti-
poverty program related to a covered amount de-
scribed in clause (i)(VII), (ii), or (iii) of subsection 
(a)(3)(A) shall continue to be provided to the same 
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eligible local entities or recipients as under applica-
ble law in effect as of the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(4) IMPACT ON FUNDING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—During the period of 
the pilot project— 
(i) the State shall not be eligible to re-
ceive Federal funding for the antipoverty 
programs, outside the pilot project; and 
(ii) individuals receiving per-capita di-
rect assistance through the pilot project 
shall not be eligible for additional benefits 
under the antipoverty programs, outside 
the pilot project. 
(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Notwithstanding sub-
paragraph (A), in the case of a State carrying 
out a limited scope pilot project described in 
subsection (c)(2), the State may continue to re-
ceive Federal funding for the antipoverty pro-
grams, outside the pilot project. 
(C) SNAP CONTINGENCY FUND.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph (A), on the request of a 
State carrying out a pilot project, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture may use contingency 
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reserve funding made available under the 
provisions described in clause (ii) to pro-
vide benefits to individuals receiving per- 
capita direct assistance through the pilot 
project under the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program established under the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2011 et seq.) during a period of economic 
downturn, a natural disaster, a public 
health emergency, or another unanticipated 
event that increases the demand for those 
benefits, as determined by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. 
(ii) 
PROVISIONS
DESCRIBED.—The 
provisions referred to in clause (i) are the 
following: 
(I) The matter under the heading 
‘‘SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
ASSIST-
ANCE
PROGRAM’’ under the heading 
‘‘FOOD
AND
NUTRITION
SERVICE’’ 
under 
the 
heading 
‘‘DOMESTIC 
FOOD PROGRAMS’’ in title IV of 
division B of the Continuing Appro-
priations, 
Agriculture, 
Legislative 
Branch, Military Construction and 
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Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 
2026 (Public Law 119–37). 
(II) The matter under the head-
ing ‘‘SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAM’’ under the head-
ing ‘‘FOOD
AND NUTRITION SERV-
ICE’’ under the heading ‘‘DOMESTIC 
FOOD PROGRAMS’’ in title IV of 
division B of the Consolidated Appro-
priations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118– 
42; 138 Stat. 93). 
(III) Section 1109 of the Full- 
Year Continuing Appropriations and 
Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 
119–4; 139 Stat. 13). 
(D) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY 
FAMILIES
(TANF)
CONTINGENCY
FUND.—Not-
withstanding subparagraph (A), on the request 
of a State carrying out a pilot project, the Sec-
retary may use funds available under section 
403(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
603(b)) to provide benefits to individuals receiv-
ing per-capita direct assistance under the tem-
porary assistance for needy families program 
established under part A of title IV of the So-
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cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
through the pilot project during a period of eco-
nomic downturn, a natural disaster, a public 
health emergency, or another unanticipated 
event that increases the demand for those bene-
fits, as determined by the Secretary. Nothing in 
the preceding sentence shall be construed as re-
quiring the State carrying out the pilot project 
to submit a request under section 403(b) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(b)) during 
an eligible month (as defined in paragraph (4) 
of such section) for payment of funds under 
such section or for the Secretary to determine 
that the State is an eligible State for purposes 
of such section. 
(E) LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) EMERGENCY FUND.— 
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), on the re-
quest of a State carrying out a pilot project, the 
Secretary may use funds available under section 
2602(e) of the Low-Income Home Energy As-
sistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621(e)) (in 
addition to meeting the objectives described in 
that section) to provide benefits to households 
that include individuals receiving per-capita di-
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rect assistance through the pilot project under 
the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Pro-
gram established under that Act during a pe-
riod of economic downturn, a natural disaster, 
a public health emergency, or another unantici-
pated event that increases the demand for those 
benefits, as determined by the Secretary. 
(F) EMERGENCY FUNDING.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding 
subparagraph (A), nothing shall prohibit a 
State carrying out a pilot project from re-
ceiving an appropriation described in 
clause (ii), and using that appropriation to 
provide benefits to individuals receiving 
per-capita direct assistance through the 
pilot project. 
(ii) APPROPRIATION.—An appropria-
tion described in this clause is an appro-
priation— 
(I) for an antipoverty program 
related to a covered amount described 
in subsection (a)(3)(A); and 
(II) made in an Act other than 
an regular appropriations Act. 
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(5) CLARIFICATION.—A waiver granted to a 
State under paragraph (1) includes a waiver for 
agencies, persons, and families in the State de-
scribed in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection 
(a)(3)(A). 
(f) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive an Up-
ward Mobility Grant to carry out a pilot project under this 
section, a State shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require, including— 
(1) information stating— 
(A) how the State will utilize the Upward 
Mobility Grant to achieve the antipoverty objec-
tives described in subsection (b)(2)(B); 
(B) how the State will achieve the goals of 
the antipoverty programs included in the pilot 
project involved, including (as applicable to the 
programs included) skills acquisition, housing 
(including rental housing) affordability, access 
to nutrition, reduced home energy costs, afford-
able child care, and temporary assistance to 
low-income families; and 
(C) how the State will ensure that funds 
made available under the pilot project for the 
goals of an antipoverty program related to a 
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covered amount described in clause (i)(VII), 
(ii), or (iii) of subsection (a)(3)(A) shall con-
tinue to be provided to the same eligible local 
entities or recipients as under applicable law in 
effect as of the date of enactment of this Act, 
and information demonstrating demonstrable, 
substantive, and robust engagement with those 
local entities and recipients on the waiver provi-
sions described in subsection (e)(1). 
(2)(A) information stating which statutory and 
regulatory requirements applicable to an antipoverty 
program the State requests to be waived, as de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of sub-
section (e)(1); 
(B) a description of how the State will utilize 
the Upward Mobility Grant funds to design and use 
a benefit structure for benefits and services provided 
through the pilot project that promotes upward mo-
bility through improvements on the upward mobility 
measures outlined in subsection (j)(2); and 
(C) benchmark goals for improvements on those 
measures; 
(3) information describing— 
(A) the eligibility criteria established by 
the State for pilot project participants; 
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(B) how the State, in carrying out the pilot 
project, will— 
(i) protect beneficiary data and pri-
vacy; 
(ii) prevent fraudulent use of funds; 
and 
(iii) maintain clear, auditable records 
for all funds and services; and 
(C) the program integrity measures estab-
lished by the State to ensure that the State 
provides direct assistance benefits to eligible 
pilot project participants in compliance with the 
criteria established under subparagraph (A) and 
requirements established under clauses (i), (ii), 
and (iii) of subparagraph (B); 
(4)(A) information describing how the State 
will apply the work requirement for direct assistance 
benefit recipients specified in subsection (h); and 
(B) information describing the program integ-
rity measures established by the State to ensure 
compliance with that work requirement; 
(5) information demonstrating how the State 
will engage nonprofit organizations, faith-based or-
ganizations, private service providers, local govern-
ments, and other local entities to deliver holistic, 
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customized case management and a portion of the 
services for the pilot project; 
(6) information describing how the State will 
evaluate the project by contracting under subsection 
(j) with an independent, third-party evaluator, and 
will ensure the most rigorous results from the eval-
uation and the strongest possible measurement 
through the evaluation of the causal link between 
the State’s proposed benefit structure and the up-
ward mobility measures listed in subsection (j)(2), 
including— 
(A) the methodology that will be used to 
evaluate the pilot project; 
(B) the data the State will collect and pro-
vide to the evaluator; 
(C) the process by which the State will col-
lect the data to provide to the evaluator; and 
(D) information on the evaluator’s quali-
fications, including— 
(i) confirmation that the evaluator is 
independent from the State and from any 
nonprofit organizations, faith-based organi-
zations, private service providers, local gov-
ernments, and other local entities partici-
pating in the pilot project; and 
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(ii) information stating whether the 
evaluator has demonstrated substantial ex-
perience in conducting rigorous evalua-
tions, utilizing the methodology described 
under subparagraph (A); 
(7) information— 
(A) describing how the State will use uti-
lize fiscal savings resulting from improvements 
on upward mobility measures under subsection 
(j)(2) to improve program operations and infra-
structure of programs covered by the pilot 
project, including— 
(i) establishing a State reserve fund to 
provide temporary per-capita direct assist-
ance benefits to eligible individuals and 
households during a period of economic 
downturn, a natural disaster, a public 
health emergency, or another unanticipated 
event that increases the demand for those 
benefits, 
as 
determined 
by 
the 
cor-
responding Secretary; 
(ii) using the savings to improve pro-
gram management, eligibility verification, 
benefits distribution, compliance moni-
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toring, and enforcement of the work re-
quirement required under subsection (h); 
(iii) using the savings for renovation, 
expansion, or maintenance of community 
facilities to promote antipoverty objectives 
described in subsection (b)(2)(B); 
(iv) using the savings for resources 
for capacity-building to increase collabora-
tion with and involvement of nonprofit or-
ganizations, faith-based organizations, pri-
vate service providers, local governments, 
and other local entities to deliver services 
funded under the pilot project; 
(v) using the savings to integrate pro-
gram operations, improve case manage-
ment, streamline client intake, or reduce 
administrative duplication; and 
(vi) providing work supports for indi-
viduals who are employed and working 
hours consistent with section 261.32 of 
title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a 
successor regulation), who are not receiv-
ing assistance through the Upward Mobil-
ity Grant; and 
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(B) demonstrating how the supports de-
scribed in subparagraph (A)(vi) will be designed 
to— 
(i) increase the level of hours worked 
for those receiving such a support; and 
(ii) increase the level of earnings for 
those receiving such a support; 
(8) at the election of the State, a proposal— 
(A) that describes how the State will re-
duce regulatory barriers for the purpose of in-
creasing market access to, or lowering the costs 
of, nutrition, child care, home energy (including 
utilities), employment and training services for 
dislocated workers, or housing (including rental 
housing) (referred to in this paragraph as ‘‘cov-
ered basics’’); and 
(B) that includes— 
(i) identification of existing (as of the 
date of submission) State regulatory bar-
riers that limit market entry to, or produc-
tion or supply of, any of the covered ba-
sics; and 
(ii) actions the State will take to re-
duce, streamline, or eliminate regulations 
establishing such barriers; and 
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(9) in the case of a State seeking to carry out 
a limited scope pilot project— 
(A) a detailed description of the more lim-
ited scope of the pilot project, including whether 
the project will involve a limited percentage of 
the individuals eligible to participate in the pilot 
project, a limited geographic area, a limited 
number of antipoverty programs, or some other 
limitation on the project; and 
(B) information indicating the percentage 
described in subsection (d)(2)(D) that the State 
seeks to receive through the pilot program. 
(g) EVALUATING AND APPROVING APPLICATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order for a State to re-
ceive an Upward Mobility Grant to carry out a pilot 
project under this section, the State shall obtain ap-
proval from the Secretary of the application for the 
pilot project submitted under subsection (f). 
(2) COMMENT PERIOD.—On receiving the appli-
cation, the Secretary shall— 
(A) not later than 5 days after the date of 
that receipt, provide notice on the website of 
the Department of Health and Human Services 
of receipt of the application; and 
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(B) give interested persons, including 
stakeholders in the State, an opportunity to 
submit comments on the application for a 30- 
day period beginning on the date on which the 
Secretary provides notice under subparagraph 
(A). 
(3) EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS.—In evalu-
ating an application to carry out a project, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(A) evaluate the application based on the 
extent to which the project— 
(i) will achieve the antipoverty objec-
tives described in subsection (b)(2)(B); 
(ii) will achieve the goals described in 
subsection (f)(1)(B); and 
(iii) will meet the requirements de-
scribed in subsection (f)(1)(C) relating to 
provision of funds and to engagement; 
(B) evaluate the application based on the 
extent to which the project will make improve-
ments on the upward mobility measures de-
scribed in subsection (j)(2); and 
(C) consider the extent to which the meth-
odology of the project evaluation under sub-
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section (j) and data collection under subsection 
(f) will— 
(i) produce rigorous results, using ex-
perimental designs that use— 
(I) random assignment; or 
(II) if random assignment is not 
feasible, another reliable, evidence- 
based research methodology that al-
lows for the strongest practicable 
causal inferences; and 
(ii) provide sufficient contextual infor-
mation on the characteristics of the popu-
lation served by the project, including de-
mographic and geographic information, to 
assess the applicability of the project in 
other settings. 
(4) PRIORITY.—In determining which applica-
tions to approve under this subsection, the Secretary 
shall give priority to— 
(A) applications for a pilot project with a 
program design that limits— 
(i) the average Marginal Effective Tax 
Rate of an increase in earned income at-
tributable to employment through the pilot 
project to not more than 50 percent; and 
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(ii) the average Marginal Effective 
Tax Rate of an increase in such earned in-
come to not more than 50 percent, among 
participants for whom such increase results 
in lack of eligibility for any per-capita di-
rect assistance; 
(B) applications the Secretary projects will 
most make improvements on the upward mobil-
ity measures described in subsection (j)(2); 
(C) applications for a pilot project for 
which the methodology described in paragraph 
(3)(C) will use an experimental design that 
uses— 
(i) random assignment; or 
(ii) if random assignment is not fea-
sible— 
(I) a natural experiment design; 
(II) a synthetic control method; 
(III) a differences-in-differences 
technique; 
(IV) a regression discontinuity 
method; 
(V) 
an 
instrumental 
variable 
method; 
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(VI) a panel data with mixed ef-
fects method; 
(VII) a propensity score match-
ing method; or 
(VIII) a cross-sectional regres-
sion method; and 
(D) applications that describe program in-
tegrity measures that will maximize compliance 
with— 
(i) the work requirement described in 
subsection (h); and 
(ii) 
the 
requirements 
established 
under clauses (i), (ii), (iii) of subsection 
(f)(3)(B). 
(5) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL.— 
(A) GROUNDS FOR DISAPPROVAL.—In re-
viewing an application, the Secretary deter-
mines that the project will not achieve the anti-
poverty 
objectives 
described 
in 
subsection 
(b)(2)(B), achieve the goals described in sub-
section (f)(1)(B), or meet the requirements de-
scribed in subsection (f)(1)(C) relating to the 
provision of funds and to engagement, the Sec-
retary shall disapprove the application. Nothing 
in this subparagraph shall be construed to pre-
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vent the Secretary from disapproving an appli-
cation for another reason specified in this sec-
tion. 
(B) TIMELINE.—The Secretary shall de-
cide whether or not to approve the application 
not later than 90 days after the date of receipt 
of the application. 
(6) PROCESS AFTER DISAPPROVAL.—If the Sec-
retary decides to disapprove the application of a 
State— 
(A) the Secretary shall provide the State 
with a detailed explanation of the decision; 
(B) the State may submit a modified appli-
cation to the Secretary for approval; and 
(C) if a modified application is submitted, 
the Secretary shall make a decision on approval 
of the application, after evaluating and giving 
priority as described in paragraphs (3) and (4), 
not later than 30 days after the date of receipt 
of the modified application. 
(h) WORK REQUIREMENT
AND PROGRAM INTEG-
RITY.— 
(1) SNAP REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements 
under subsections (d) and (o) of section 6 of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) 
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(c) TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are transferred to the 
Administration a portion, determined by the Office 
of Management and Budget, of the functions that 
the heads of covered Federal agencies exercised be-
fore the date of the enactment of this Act (including 
related functions of any officer or employee of a cov-
ered Federal agency). The portion shall consist of 
those functions (or parts of functions) that the Of-
fice determines are appropriate for the Administra-
tion to exercise in carrying out this Act. 
(2) DELEGATION
AND
ASSIGNMENT.—Except 
where otherwise expressly prohibited by law or oth-
erwise provided by this Act, the Secretary may dele-
gate any of the transferred functions to such officers 
and employees of the Administration as the Sec-
retary may designate, and may authorize successive 
redelegations of such functions as may be necessary 
or appropriate. No delegation of transferred func-
tions by the Secretary under this section shall relieve 
such Secretary of responsibility for the administra-
tion of such functions. 
(3) REORGANIZATION.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to allocate or reallocate any transferred 
function among the officers of the Administration, 
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