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HR 2861 105th Congress House

Welfare to Work Act of 1997

Official title: To improve the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families.

Introduced: November 6, 1997 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Aid to dependent childrenAppropriationsCash welfare block grantsChild care block grants
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Crime and Law EnforcementDay careDepartment of Health and Human ServicesEconomics and Public FinanceEmergency ManagementEmergency medical servicesFamiliesFamily violenceFederal aid to child welfareGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment lendingHealthHours of laborIntergovernmental fiscal relationsJob huntingLabor and EmploymentMedicaidMinimum wagesPopulation growthWelfare eligibilityWelfare recipientsWelfare waiversWelfare work participation
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Nov 13, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Nov 6, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Nov 6, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, 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.
Nov 6, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Nov 6, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 14, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Welfare to Work Act of 1997 - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to: (1) rename the program the Assistance for Needy Families Program; (2) require work activities after three months of receiving program assistance (instead of the current 24 months), with certain good cause exceptions; (3) require cash benefits to recipients based on the number of hours engaged in required work activities; (4) increase child care funding; (5) eliminate the five-year limit on program assistance; (6) establish a supplemental grant for operation of work programs; (7) repeal authority for Federal loans for State welfare programs; (8) make mandatory the currently optional domestic violence certification with regard to State plans; and (9) eliminate State discretion with respect to an initial assessment of assistance recipients, making such assessments mandatory.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2861: Welfare to Work Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2861/
MLA
"H.R. 2861: Welfare to Work Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2861/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2861, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2861/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2861: Welfare to Work Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2861/)
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