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HR 471 99th Congress House Social Welfare Aid to dependent children Children and youth Employment and training programs Federal aid programs Federal aid to housing Federal-state relations Food and Food Industry Food stamps Housing and Housing Finance Labor and Employment Low-income housing Manpower policy Manpower training programs Public Welfare and Charities Public assistance programs Public housing Public service employment Rent subsidies State finance

A bill to provide that each State must establish a workfare program, and require participation therein by all residents of the State who are receiving benefits or assistance under the aid to families with dependent children, food stamp, and public housing programs, as a condition of the State's eligibility for Federal assistance in connection with those programs.

Introduced: January 3, 1985 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 4, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities.
Feb 20, 1985
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Feb 11, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development.
Feb 7, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Public Assistance and Unemployment Compensation.
Feb 6, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Domestic Marketing, Consumer Relations, and Nutrition.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Agriculture.
Jan 3, 1985
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Requires that each State establish and maintain an approved workfare program as a condition of its eligibility for Federal payments or other assistance under the: (1) program of aid to families with dependent children under the Social Security Act; (2) food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977; and (3) public housing and assisted housing programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937.

Requires that such State workfare program shall require every State resident applying for or receiving aid under such Federal public assistance program to perform work in return for, and as a condition for, such aid.

Directs the appropriate Federal agencies to promulgate guidelines for approval, supervision, and oversight of such State workfare programs.

Exempts from required participation in such programs those who are: (1) under age 18 or over age 65; (2) disabled; (3) regularly employed for at least 40 hours a week; or (4) primarily responsible for the care of a child less than three years old (or for the care of a child more than two but less than six years old if suitable child care is not available at reasonable cost).

Requires that each State workfare program must provide that if any individual who is required to participate in such program refuses to accept a bona fide offer of qualified employment or to perform qualified employment, in any month, neither such individual nor any other person in the family or household of which such individual is a member shall be eligible to receive any aid under such Federal public assistance programs for that month.

Requires that State workfare programs include provision for job counseling, assistance in obtaining employment outside the program, and job search activities.

Provides for: (1) Federal matching funds to cover administrative costs of such State programs; (2) Federal cut-offs of funds to State agencies for failure to comply with this Act; and (3) Federal agency reports to Congress on such State programs.

Authorizes appropriations.

What's happening now March 4, 1985

Referred to Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8