H.R. 6918 · 118th Congress · House

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced
Jan 9, 24
Passed House
Jan 18, 24
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

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.

Previous Versions

07Jan 16, 2024

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.

00Jan 9, 2024

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 Timeline

23
  1. JAN 22, 2024IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 969. (consideration: CR H201-210)

    201Yea
    210Nay
    0NV
  3. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    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.

  4. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6918.

  5. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  6. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    Ms

    Davids (KS) moved to recommit to the Committee on Ways and Means. (text: CR H210)

  7. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  8. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    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.

  9. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H226-227)

    226Yea
    227Nay
    0NV
  10. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #16

    208 - 214 (Roll no. 16).

    208Yea
    214Nay
    0NV
  11. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #17

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)

    214Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  12. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #17

    214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)

    214Yea
    208Nay
    0NV
  13. JAN 18, 2024Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  14. JAN 17, 2024IntroReferral

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H155)

  15. JAN 17, 2024Floor

    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.

  16. JAN 16, 2024Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.

    118Yea
    349Nay
    0NV
  17. JAN 16, 2024Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.

    118Yea
    349Nay
    0NV
  18. JAN 16, 2024Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 285.

  19. JAN 11, 2024Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  20. JAN 11, 2024Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.

    24Yea
    18Nay
    0NV
  21. JAN 09, 2024IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  22. JAN 09, 2024IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  23. JAN 09, 2024IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Committees

4

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

sshr00

Referred: Jan 22, 2024

Active

Ways and Means Committee

hswm00

Referred: Jan 17, 2024

Active

Ways and Means Committee

hswm00

Referred: Jan 11, 2024

Active

Ways and Means Committee

hswm00

Referred: Jan 9, 2024

Active