Skip to main content
S 3672 116th Congress Senate

Pandemic TANF Assistance Act

Official title: A bill to provide States and Indian Tribes with flexibility in administering the temporary assistance for needy families program due to the public health emerg… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to provide States and Indian Tribes with flexibility in administering the temporary assistance for needy families program due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), to make emergency grants to States and Indian Tribes to provide financial support for low-income individuals affected by that public health emergency, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 21, 2020 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Social Welfare American SamoaAppropriationsCardiovascular and respiratory healthDisaster relief and insurance
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Emergency medical services and trauma careEmployment and training programsFamily servicesFederal-Indian relationsGovernment information and archivesGuamIndian social and development programsInfectious and parasitic diseasesIntergovernmental relationsNorthern Mariana IslandsPoverty and welfare assistanceState and local financeState and local government operationsU.S. territories and protectoratesVirgin Islands
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 11, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
May 11, 2020
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action May 11, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pandemic TANF Assistance Act

This bill temporarily suspends certain Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program requirements and establishes a grant program in response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency. Specifically, states, tribes, and territories may not deny, reduce, or terminate TANF assistance because a recipient does not meet specified conditions of TANF participation from October 1, 2019, to November 30, 2020. These conditions include time limits for receiving assistance, work requirements, and compliance with paternity establishment or child support procedures.

During that time period, the bill also restricts the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from penalizing jurisdictions that fail to meet TANF requirements such as work participation standards. However, HHS may reduce grants for jurisdictions that improperly deny, reduce, or terminate TANF assistance in violation of the bill.

Additionally, HHS must award grants to states, tribes, and territories for short-term cash, noncash, and in-kind assistance and other activities to assist families meet their basic needs from April 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. Families eligible for assistance must be impacted by COVID-19 and have monthly income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The bill provides funding for this purpose.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Aug 4, 2020
 D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Jul 29, 2020
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Jun 30, 2020
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · May 21, 2020
 D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · May 11, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3672: Pandemic TANF Assistance Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3672/
MLA
"S. 3672: Pandemic TANF Assistance Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3672/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3672, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3672/.
Markdown link
[S. 3672: Pandemic TANF Assistance Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3672/)
Report a problem