Welfare Reform Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-1904
Sponsor: Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC]
Introduced: 2011-11-17 in the Senate
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Abortion
Adoption and foster care
Budget process
Child care and development
Congressional oversight
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Energy assistance for the poor and aged
Family services
Food assistance and relief
Health programs administration and funding
Higher education
Housing and community development funding
Housing for the elderly and disabled
Income tax credits
Intergovernmental relations
Legislative rules and procedure
Low- and moderate-income housing
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
Public housing
State and local finance
Student aid and college costs

Summary:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: 
 Welfare Reform Act of 2011 - Welfare Reform Restoration Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise the TANF program by: (1) eliminating the temporary modification of the caseload reduction credit, and (2) reducing funding of state family assistance grants.
 
Restores the former name of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and restores its text as if the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 had not been enacted; and (2) renames the supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits as the food stamp program.
 
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to revise work requirements for the food stamp program and require able-bodied work eligible adult members of a family unit to participate in a work activation program during a full month of participation in the food stamp program, fulfilling specified levels of work activity during that month. (Work activation means, not employment, but supervised job search, community service activities, education and job training, workfare, or drug and alcohol treatment.)
 
Specifies a financial reward for any state that reduces its food stamp caseload below calendar 2006 levels.
 
Declares that a food, food product, meal, or other specified item shall be considered a food under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 only if it is a bare essential.
 
Requires the President to include means-tested welfare spending in every budget submission. 
 
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to define and establish an aggregate cap for means-tested welfare spending.
 
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to states to reward reductions in poverty and government dependence and increases in self-sufficiency.
 
Prohibits the expenditure for abortions, with certain exceptions, of any funds authorized or appropriated by federal law, and funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law.
 
Prohibits funding for health benefits plans that cover abortion. 
 
Prohibits the allowance of any tax credit with respect to amounts paid or incurred for an abortion or with respect to amounts paid or incurred for a health benefits plan (including premium assistance) that includes coverage of abortion.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2011-11-17
text: Introduced in Senate