Welfare Reform Act of 2022

Bill: 117-hr-9701
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1]
Introduced: 2022-12-30
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Latest action: action_date: 2022-12-30
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Education and Labor, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-12-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Welfare Reform Act of 2022</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The bill prohibits the sale of the land for a 10-year period.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9701 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 30, 2022 Mr. Gohmert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , Agriculture , Energy and Commerce , Financial Services , Education and Labor , and the Judiciary , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Welfare Reform Act of 2022 . 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. 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.