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H.R. 8872 119th Congress House

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

Official title: To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 19, 2026 Introduced by: Mike Carey Republican · Ohio See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Congressional oversightGovernment information and archivesIntergovernmental relationsPoverty and welfare assistance
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 Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 3, 2026 · 4:08 PM EDT
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
Jun 3, 2026 · 3:23 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
Jun 3, 2026 · 3:22 PM EDT
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Jun 3, 2026 · 3:22 PM EDT
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Jun 3, 2026 · 3:22 PM EDT
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Jun 3, 2026
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Jun 3, 2026 · 4:08 PM EDT
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
May 29, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
May 29, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
May 21, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
May 21, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 19, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
May 19, 2026
Introduced in House
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 225 – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1333, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Co… Agreed to Jun 3, 2026
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What's happening now June 3, 2026

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

This bill limits how and when states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and establishes an eligibility threshold for all TANF-funded assistance and services.

Currently, each state sets its own eligibility threshold for TANF-funded cash assistance. The bill establishes an upper limit on eligibility applicable to all assistance and services (including non-cash benefits) funded by TANF family assistance grants. Under this provision, only families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may receive TANF-funded assistance and services.

Further, the bill generally requires states to obligate TANF funds by the end of the fiscal year after they are paid and to spend funds by the end of the second fiscal year after they are paid. However, states may reserve a specified portion of their TANF funds for future use. (There is currently no requirement to use TANF funds within a specified period.)

The bill also explicitly requires states to use federal TANF funds to supplement, not replace, state and local funding for TANF-supported programs. (Current law requires states to spend a specified minimum amount on TANF-eligible activities and populations, known as the maintenance of effort requirement.)

States must also take specified steps to track and report on improper payments of federal funds (e.g., overpayments, underpayments, payments to ineligible recipients). Within one year of enactment, HHS must submit to Congress a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by states under the TANF program within 10 years.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 3
  • HRES 1333 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8646) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and …
  • HR 2242 Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act
  • HR 2359 Improve Transparency and Stability for Families and Children Act
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 9

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

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 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 8
R
Feenstra, Randy
Iowa · May 20, 2026
 R
Miller, Carol D.
West Virginia · May 20, 2026
 R
Moore, Blake D.
Utah · May 20, 2026
 R
Arrington, Jodey C.
Texas · May 19, 2026
 R
Bean, Aaron
Florida · May 19, 2026
 R
Miller, Max L.
Ohio · May 19, 2026
 R
Smith, Adrian
Nebraska · May 19, 2026
 R
Tenney, Claudia
New York · May 19, 2026
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8872: Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8872/
MLA
"H.R. 8872: Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8872/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8872, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8872/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8872: Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8872/)
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