Welfare Reform Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.9701 | Sponsor: Rep. Gohmert, Louie (R-TX)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Welfare Reform Act of 2022
This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to establish a program to convey certain federal land to individuals who permanently waive eligibility for certain welfare programs.
The BLM shall have final discretion as to the allocation of land to such individuals but must provide them with a means to express their preference for available land, including whether the land will be used for residential or agricultural purposes.
The bill prohibits the sale of the land for a 10-year period.

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 certain welfare programs, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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''.

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 independence.

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 administrative jurisdiction of the 
        Bureau of Land Management to be conveyed to each covered 
        individual who is approved for participation in the Program.
            (2) Limitations.--
                    (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 individual that 
                        receives agricultural land under the Program 
                        shall, with respect to the portions of such 
                        land that are suitable for farming, use the 
                        land for agricultural purposes for at least 10 
                        years after receiving the land.
                            (ii) Reverter.--If a covered individual 
                        fails to use agricultural land for agricultural 
                        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 
                                conveyance to another covered 
                                individual under the Program.
                            (iii) Continued eligibility for the 
                        program.--If agricultural land reverts to the 
                        Secretary under clause (ii), after the 3-year 
                        period beginning on the date of such reversion, 
                        the covered individual to whom the reversion 
                        applies may apply for, and receive, residential 
                        land under the Program.
    (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 manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary 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 covered 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 provision of law, upon receiving land under 
the Program, a covered individual waives eligibility for, and may not 
receive benefits from, the following welfare programs:
            (1) The supplemental nutrition assistance program 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 Security 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 Community Development Act of 1974 
        (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
            (9) The Project-Based Rental Assistance program 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 established 
        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 program authorized 
        under part C of title I of the Elementary 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:
            (1) Not later than 30 days after receiving an application 
        from a covered individual to participate in the Program, that 
        such covered individual has applied to the Program.
            (2) Not later than 30 days after approving the application 
        of a covered individual, that such covered individual has been 
        approved to participate in the Program.
            (3) Not later than 30 days after conveying land to a 
        covered individual under the Program, that such covered 
        individual has received land under the Program and is no longer 
        eligible for certain Federal welfare programs pursuant to 
        subsection (d).
    (f) Participation Limited to Individual.--
            (1) In general.--No individual, including a guardian or 
        fiduciary, may--
                    (A) submit an application under subsection (c)(1) 
                on behalf of another individual; or
                    (B) waive the eligibility of another individual 
                with respect to a welfare program under this section.
            (2) Survivor benefits.--If a covered individual 
        participates in the Program, a survivor of such covered 
        individual shall continue to be eligible for the welfare 
        programs described in subsection (d), unless such survivor 
        participates in the Program.
    (g) Tax Implications for Married Covered Individuals.--In the case 
of married covered individual who participates in the Program, section 
32 of the Internal 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 conveyance 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 subsection (d).
            (2) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the program 
        established under subsection (a).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management.
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