Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

Bill: 118-hr-6918
Sponsor: Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7]
Introduced: 2024-01-09 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Health programs administration and funding
Sex and reproductive health
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2024-01-09
text: 

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

 
This bill prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
 
The proposed rule provides that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes.
 
The bill prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including but relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports.
 
Under current law, TANF funds may be used for any of four purposes, including to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies. In the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standard.

action_date: 2024-01-16
text: 

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

 
This bill prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
 
The proposed rule provides that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes.
 
The bill prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including but relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports.
 
Under current law, TANF funds may be used for any of four purposes, including to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies. In the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standard.

action_date: 2024-01-18
text: 

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

 
This bill prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
 
The proposed rule provides that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes.
 
The bill prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including but relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports.
 
Under current law, TANF funds may be used for any of four purposes, including to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies. In the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standard.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-01-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 214 (Roll no. 16).
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H226-227)
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 6918, the chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (MO) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Ms. Davids (KS) moved to recommit to the Committee on Ways and Means. (text: CR H210)
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6918.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918 and H. Res. 957. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918, and H. Res. 957 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 6914 and H.R. 6918.
action_date: 2024-01-18
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 969. (consideration: CR H201-210)
action_date: 2024-01-17
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 969 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918 and H. Res. 957. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918, and H. Res. 957 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 6914 and H.R. 6918.
action_date: 2024-01-17
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H155)
action_date: 2024-01-16
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 285.
action_date: 2024-01-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.
action_date: 2024-01-16
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.
action_date: 2024-01-11
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.
action_date: 2024-01-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2024-01-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2024-01-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2024-01-09
text: Introduced in House