I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5842 
To amend title IV–A of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 16, 2018 
Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Nebraska) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in 
addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title IV–A of the Social Security Act, 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 ‘‘Helping Americans 
Succeed by Measuring Outcomes Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY BY MEASURING 
WORK OUTCOMES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 407 of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 607), as amended by subsection (c) of this 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:44 May 31, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5842.IH
H5842
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
section, is amended by inserting before subsection (b) the 
following: 
‘‘(a) PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND WORK 
OUTCOMES.— 
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subsection 
is to provide for the establishment of performance 
accountability measures to assess the effectiveness of 
States in increasing employment, retention, and ad-
vancement among families receiving assistance under 
the State program funded under this part or any 
other State program funded with qualified State ex-
penditures. 
‘‘(2) IN GENERAL.—A State to which a grant 
is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall 
achieve the requisite level of performance on an indi-
cator described in paragraph (3)(B) of this sub-
section for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(3) MEASURING STATE PERFORMANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each State, in con-
sultation with the Secretary, shall collect and 
submit to the Secretary the information nec-
essary to measure the level of performance of 
the State for each indicator described in sub-
paragraph (B), for fiscal year 2020 and each 
fiscal year thereafter, and the Secretary shall 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:44 May 31, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5842.IH
H5842
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
‘‘(CC) take into account 
the extent to which the lev-
els involved promote contin-
uous improvement in per-
formance by each State. 
‘‘(iv) REVISIONS BASED ON ECONOMIC 
CONDITIONS AND INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING 
ASSISTANCE DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.— 
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the 
objective statistical model referred to in 
clause (v), revise the requisite levels of per-
formance for a State and a fiscal year to 
reflect the economic conditions and charac-
teristics of the relevant individuals in the 
State during the fiscal year. 
‘‘(v) 
STATISTICAL
ADJUSTMENT 
MODEL.—The Secretary shall use an objec-
tive statistical model to make adjustments 
to the requisite levels of performance for 
the economic conditions and characteristics 
of the relevant individuals, and shall con-
sult with the Secretary of Labor to develop 
a model that is the same as or similar to 
the 
model 
described 
in 
section 
116(b)(3)(A)(viii) of the Workforce Inno-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:44 May 31, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5842.IH
H5842
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
vation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 
3141(b)(3)(A)(viii)). 
‘‘(vi) DEFINITION OF EXIT.—In this 
subsection, the term ‘exit’ means, with re-
spect to a State program funded under 
this part, ceases to receive assistance 
under the program. 
‘‘(D) REGULATIONS.—In order to ensure 
nationwide comparability of data, the Secretary, 
after consultation the Secretary of Labor and 
with States, shall issue regulations governing 
the establishment of the performance account-
ability system under this subsection and a tem-
plate for performance reports to be used by all 
States.’’. 
SEC. 3. TRANSITIONAL PHASE-OUT OF BENEFITS FOR FAMI-
LIES TO SUPPORT SUCCESS IN WORK. 
Section 402(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(vi) The document shall include a de-
scription of how the State allows for a 
transitional period of benefits, such as 
through temporary earned income dis-
regards or a gradual reduction in the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:44 May 31, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5842.IH
H5842
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
monthly benefit amount, for an individual 
receiving assistance who obtains employ-
ment and becomes ineligible due to an in-
crease in income obtained through the em-
ployment or through an increase in 
wages.’’. 
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 
on October 1, 2018. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:44 May 31, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5842.IH
H5842
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS