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‘‘(D) increase understanding of the effects 
of means-tested benefits and tax benefits on the 
earnings of low-income families; and 
‘‘(E) improve how poverty and economic 
well-being are measured, including through the 
use of consumption measures. 
‘‘(f) RESEARCH
AND
EVALUATION
CONDUCTED 
UNDER THIS SECTION.—Research and evaluation con-
ducted under this section designed to determine the effects 
of a program or policy (other than research conducted 
under subsection (e)) shall use experimental designs using 
random assignment or other reliable, evidence-based re-
search methodologies that allow for the strongest possible 
causal inferences when random assignment is not feasible. 
‘‘(g) DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT WORKS CLEARING-
HOUSE OF PROVEN AND PROMISING APPROACHES TO 
MOVE WELFARE RECIPIENTS INTO WORK.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Labor, shall develop a 
database (which shall be referred to as the ‘What 
Works Clearinghouse of Proven and Promising 
Projects to Move Welfare Recipients into Work’) of 
the projects that used a proven approach or a prom-
ising approach in moving welfare recipients into 
work, based on independent, rigorous evaluations of 
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the projects. The database shall include a separate 
listing of projects that used a developmental ap-
proach in delivering services and a further separate 
listing of the projects with no or negative effects. 
The Secretary shall add to the What Works Clear-
inghouse of Proven and Promising Projects to Move 
Welfare Recipients into Work data about the 
projects that, based on an independent, well-con-
ducted experimental evaluation of a program or 
project, using random assignment or other research 
methodologies that allow for the strongest possible 
causal inferences, have shown they are proven, 
promising, developmental, or ineffective approaches. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA FOR EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVE-
NESS OF APPROACH.—The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Labor and organizations with 
experience in evaluating research on the effective-
ness of various approaches in delivering services to 
move welfare recipients into work, shall— 
‘‘(A) establish criteria for evidence of effec-
tiveness; and 
‘‘(B) ensure that the process for estab-
lishing the criteria— 
‘‘(i) is transparent; 
‘‘(ii) is consistent across agencies; 
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‘‘(iii) provides opportunity for public 
comment; and 
‘‘(iv) takes into account efforts of 
Federal agencies to identify and publicize 
effective interventions, including efforts at 
the Department of Health and Human 
Services, the Department of Education, 
and the Department of Justice. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) APPROACH.—The term ‘approach’ 
means a process, product, strategy, or practice 
that is— 
‘‘(i) research-based, based on the re-
sults of one or more empirical studies, and 
linked to program-determined outcomes; 
and 
‘‘(ii) evaluated using rigorous research 
designs. 
‘‘(B) 
PROVEN
APPROACH.—The 
term 
‘proven approach’ means an approach that— 
‘‘(i) meets the requirements of a 
promising approach; and 
‘‘(ii) has demonstrated significant 
positive outcomes at more than one site in 
terms of increasing work and earnings of 
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participants, reducing poverty and depend-
ence, or strengthening families. 
‘‘(C) PROMISING
APPROACH.—The term 
‘promising approach’ means an approach— 
‘‘(i) that meets the requirements of 
subparagraph (D)(i); 
‘‘(ii) that has been evaluated using 
well-designed and rigorous randomized 
controlled or quasi-experimental research 
designs; 
‘‘(iii) that has demonstrated signifi-
cant positive outcomes at only one site in 
terms of increasing work and earnings of 
participants, reducing poverty and depend-
ence, or strengthening families; and 
‘‘(iv) under which the benefits of the 
positive outcomes have exceeded the costs 
of achieving the outcomes. 
‘‘(D) DEVELOPMENTAL
APPROACH.—The 
term ‘developmental approach’ means an ap-
proach that— 
‘‘(i) is research-based, grounded in 
relevant empirically-based knowledge, and 
linked to program-determined outcomes; 
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‘‘(ii) is evaluated using rigorous re-
search designs; and 
‘‘(iii) has yet to demonstrate a signifi-
cant positive outcome in terms of increas-
ing work and earnings of participants in a 
cost-effective way. 
‘‘(h) APPROPRIATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the amount appro-
priated by section 403(a)(1) for each fiscal year, 
0.33 percent shall be available for research and eval-
uation under this section. 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATION.—Of the amount made avail-
able under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall make available $10,000,000 plus 
such additional amount as the Secretary deems nec-
essary and appropriate, to carry out subsection 
(e).’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
403(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(1)(B)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘, reduced by the percentage speci-
fied in section 413(h) with respect to the fiscal year,’’ be-
fore ‘‘as the amount’’. 
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SEC. 5. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO DATA EXCHANGE 
STANDARDS TO IMPROVE PROGRAM COORDI-
NATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 411(d) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 611(d)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) DATA EXCHANGE STANDARDS FOR IMPROVED 
INTEROPERABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) DESIGNATION.—The Secretary shall, in 
consultation with an interagency work group estab-
lished by the Office of Management and Budget and 
considering State government perspectives, by rule, 
designate data exchange standards to govern, under 
this part— 
‘‘(A) necessary categories of information 
that State agencies operating programs under 
State plans approved under this part are re-
quired under applicable Federal law to elec-
tronically exchange with another State agency; 
and 
‘‘(B) Federal reporting and data exchange 
required under applicable Federal law. 
‘‘(2) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
data 
exchange 
standards required by paragraph (1) shall, to the ex-
tent practicable— 
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‘‘(A) incorporate a widely accepted, non- 
proprietary, searchable, computer-readable for-
mat, such as the eXtensible Markup Language; 
‘‘(B) contain interoperable standards devel-
oped and maintained by intergovernmental 
partnerships, such as the National Information 
Exchange Model; 
‘‘(C) incorporate interoperable standards 
developed and maintained by Federal entities 
with authority over contracting and financial 
assistance; 
‘‘(D) be consistent with and implement ap-
plicable accounting principles; 
‘‘(E) be implemented in a manner that is 
cost-effective and improves program efficiency 
and effectiveness; and 
‘‘(F) be capable of being continually up-
graded as necessary. 
‘‘(3) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to require a 
change to existing data exchange standards found to 
be effective and efficient.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Not later than the date that 
is 24 months after the date of the enactment of this sec-
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tion, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
issue a proposed rule that— 
(1) identifies federally required data exchanges, 
include specification and timing of exchanges to be 
standardized, and address the factors used in deter-
mining whether and when to standardize data ex-
changes; and 
(2) specifies State implementation options and 
describes future milestones. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 
on October 1, 2016. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 21, 2016. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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