SC Nebraska News

Today in Washington, Representatives Adrian Smith and Nathaniel Moran have taken steps to redefine the disbursement of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. The proposed legislation, named the Targeting TANF to Families in Need Act, aims to ensure the funds prioritize households with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty line. TANF, as it stands, lacks federal eligibility limits.

Expressing his views on the initiative, Rep. Smith said, "Ensuring TANF programs help families who need it most get back on their feet is tremendously important. This bill would help states ensure TANF implementation is focused toward its intended goal of restoring beneficiaries to gainful employment and self-sufficiency. I thank Rep. Moran for joining me in this effort, and I look forward to working with my Ways and Means Committee colleagues to advance this legislation."

Rep. Moran also supported the initiative, stating, "I’m proud to join Congressman Adrian Smith in introducing this legislation that reforms the TANF program so that it can continue to meet its original and important purpose to provide temporary assistance for needy families. Without reform, though, TANF’s current expansive program will remain inefficient and bloated—like so much of the federal government—and will simply add to the national debt with very little to show as a return on this investment in families. With the reforms in this bill, working families and their children will continue to receive the support they need to achieve independence while promoting the critical values of personal responsibility, hard work, and self-sufficiency. More of these types of reforms are needed across government to bring higher value to the taxpayer for the use of their money."

The full text of the bill is available for public perusal.