Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act

Jodey C. Arrington

Republican · TX · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11)· 2026-03-03
• Mike Kelly (R-PA-16)· 2026-05-13

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

2025-03-21

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would strengthen oversight of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program by requiring states to better detect and prevent fraudulent claims and improper payments to recipients. The measure aims to reduce waste and ensure that welfare benefits reach only eligible families by improving verification procedures and accountability measures. States would need to implement stricter controls to catch errors and fraud, which could affect both the administration of the program and the families who receive assistance.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 2242 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2242 To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to measure 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 21, 2025 Mr. Arrington introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to measure 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act''. SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING PROGRAM INTEGRITY THROUGH IMPROPER PAYMENTS REVIEW. (a) In General.--Section 404 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(l) Applicability of Payment Integrity Law.--The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 shall apply to a State in respect of the State program funded under this part in the same manner in which such Act applies to a Federal agency.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2026. (c) Report to Congress.--Within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Congress a written report that contains a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by States under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act within 10 years. <all>

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