H.R. 150

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To establish the People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission, to improve the social safety net and increase social mobility by increasing access to resources which address the underlying causes of poverty.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 3, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Davidson

H.R. 150

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to structure means-tested welfare programs so that—
- welfare programs work in an integrated manner and provide social workers with the tools to assist people holistically;
- welfare programs work together in a streamlined and comprehensible manner, and, over time, individuals on such programs will earn enough income on their own to transition off of means-tested welfare programs; and
- means-tested welfare programs increase employment, encourage healthy families and further educational attainment so that households maintain an income above the poverty level without services and benefits from the Federal Government.

SEC. 3. Definition of means-tested welfare program

(a) Means-Tested welfare program
- In this Act, the term — means-tested welfare program
  - means any Federal program that is designed to specifically provide assistance or benefits exclusively to low-income Americans;
  - does not include such a program if the program—
    - is based on earned eligibility;
    - is not need-based;
    - provides to an individual benefits under title 38, United States Code, or other provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    - offers universal or near universal eligibility to the working population and their dependents; and
  - includes community and economic development programs targeted to low-income communities or populations.
(b) Programs included
- For purposes of subsection (a), the following Federal programs shall be considered means-tested welfare programs:
- (1) Cash and general assistance
  - The Supplemental Security Income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act.
  - The earned income tax credit determined under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 32
  - The refundable portion of the child tax credit determined under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 24
  - The program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
  - The foster care and adoption assistance program under part E of title IV of the Social Security Act.
  - General Assistance to Indians.
  - The programs operated under the Assets for Independence Act.
- (2) Medical
  - The Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act.
  - The State Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act.
  - Health programs operated by the Indian Health Service, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Urban Indian organizations (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act ()). 25 U.S.C. 1603
  - The health center programs under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (). 42 U.S.C. 254b
  - The Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant program under title V of the Social Security Act (). 42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.
  - The Healthy Start Initiative under section 330H of the Public Health Service Act (). 42 U.S.C. 254c–8
  - Premium tax credits and cost sharing reductions available pursuant to the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA) and the amendments made by such Act.
- (3) Food
  - The supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (). 7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.
  - The school lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.
  - The special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1786
  - The school breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (). 42 U.S.C. 1773
  - The child and adult care food program under section 17 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1766
  - The nutrition services programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (). 42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.
  - The summer food service program for children under section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1761
  - The commodity supplemental food program under section 4 of the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 ( note). 7 U.S.C. 612c
  - Commodity distribution programs under the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (). 7 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.
(c) Programs excluded
- For purposes of subsection (a), the following Federal programs shall not be considered means-tested welfare programs:
  - The Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefit program under title II of the Social Security Act (). 42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.
  - The Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (). 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.
  - A program designed exclusively or primarily to provide to an individual benefits under title 38, United States Code, or other provisions of law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  - A program that provides for the receipt of , , or (as such terms are defined by section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act ( note)). regular compensation extended compensation additional compensation 26 U.S.C. 3304
  - The program that provides for trade adjustment assistance under title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (). 19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.
  - Programs designed specifically to provide benefits to workers to compensate for job-related injuries or illnesses.
(d) Special rules
- (1)
  - For purposes of subsection (a), only the refundable portion of the following tax credits shall be considered means-tested welfare programs:
    - (i) The earned income tax credit under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 32
    - (ii) The child tax credit under of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. section 24(d)
  - For purposes of subsection (a), only the refundable portion of the premium and out-of-pocket health care subsidies to be paid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act shall be considered a means-tested welfare program.
  - For purposes of this subparagraph, the term refundable portion means the portion of the credit which is paid to an individual in excess of the amount of Federal income tax owed by the individual.
  - For purposes of subsection (a), only the costs of the free and reduced price segments of the school lunch and school breakfast programs shall be considered means-tested welfare programs.
(e) Exclusion of certain State and local expenditures
- For purposes of subsection (a), expenditures by State and local governments of funds that are—
  - obtained by the State and local government from taxes, fees, or other sources of revenue established by the State or local government; and
  - not received as any form of grant from the Federal Government,
- shall not be considered means-tested welfare programs, without regard to whether the State and local expenditures take the form of contributions to a Federal program described in subsection (a) or listed in subsection (b).

SEC. 4. Establishment of People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission

(a) Establishment
- There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be known as the or the (in this Act referred to as the ). People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort Commission`` CARE Commission
(b) Duties
- (1) In general
  - The Commission—
    - shall review all means-tested welfare programs within the Federal Government to—
      - (i) identify changes in law (which may include ways to streamline functions and increase efficiency within agencies or programs) that will achieve the purposes set forth in section 2;
      - (ii) evaluate whether each means-tested welfare program could be consolidated with another means-tested welfare program, or a program subject to the availability of discretionary appropriations with similar goals, and make recommendations for consolidating the programs that are identified;
      - (iii) evaluate the potential benefits of consolidating or repurposing any means-tested welfare program that does not have proven beneficial outcomes that assist in achieving purposes set forth in section 2 and make recommendations regarding consolidating or repurposing means-tested welfare programs that are identified;
      - (iv) identify opportunities and make recommendations regarding ways for the Federal Government to reduce the cost or increase the efficiency of means-tested welfare program by contracting with private entities, or delegating authority to States, to perform activities relating to the program;
      - (v) identify means-tested welfare programs and entitlement authorities that should be modified to be carried out subject to the availability of discretionary appropriations;
      - (vi) identify changes to the law that would allow caseworkers to have a wholistic view of the person and all programs for which the individual or family would be eligible, and identify other tools that caseworkers should have access to in order to achieve the goals set forth in section 2;
      - (vii) identify and eliminate benefit cliffs by designing on/off ramps such as gradual benefit reductions as individuals’ wages increase, such that the gradual reduction in government benefits does not exceed the increase in wages; and
      - (viii) identify other ways to achieve the purposes set forth in section 2 as determined by the Commission;
    - in carrying out subparagraph (A), establish a system for evaluating the effectiveness of welfare programs, which includes income and employment outcomes for individuals and families in their respective programs, and engage in such other activities as the Commission deems appropriate to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs;
    - may review the offsetting receipts and discretionary appropriations of the Federal Government, as determined appropriate by the Commission; and
    - may develop the criteria for achieving the purposes set forth in section 2.

SEC. 5. Expedited procedures

(a) Introduction of Commission bill
- The Commission bill—
  - shall be introduced in the Senate (by request), with any technical changes necessary to carry out the intent of the bill, by the majority leader of the Senate or by a Member of the Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate not later than 5 legislative days after the date on which the bill is submitted to Congress under section 4(b)(4); and
  - shall be introduced in the House of Representatives (by request), with any technical changes necessary to carry out the intent of the bill, by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or by a Member of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives not later than 5 legislative days after the date on which the bill is submitted to Congress under section 4(b)(4).
(b) Expedited consideration in House of Representatives
- (1) Placement on calendar
  - Upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the Commission bill shall be placed immediately on the appropriate calendar.
- (2) Proceeding to consideration
  - (A) In general
    - It shall be in order, not later than 90 legislative days after the date the Commission bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, to move to proceed to consider the Commission bill in the House of Representatives.
  - (B) Procedure
    - For a motion to proceed to consider the Commission bill—
      - (i) all points of order against the motion are waived;
      - (ii) such a motion shall not be in order after the House of Representatives has disposed of a motion to proceed on the Commission bill;
      - (iii) the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without intervening motion;
      - (iv) the motion shall not be debatable; and
      - (v) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
- (3) Consideration
  - When the House of Representatives proceeds to consideration of the Commission bill—
    - the Commission bill shall be considered as read;
    - all points of order against the Commission bill and against its consideration are waived;
    - the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the Commission bill to its passage without intervening motion except 10 hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent;
    - an amendment to the Commission bill shall not be in order; and
    - a motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the Commission bill shall not be in order.
- (4) Vote on passage
  - In the House of Representatives, the Commission bill shall be agreed to upon a vote of a majority of the Members present and voting, a quorum being present.

(d) Powers of the commission

(1) Hearings
- The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act—
  - hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties; and
  - require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, documents, tapes, and materials as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties.
(2) Information from federal agencies
- The Commission may request directly, or require, by subpoena or otherwise, from any Federal agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its duties. Upon a request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(3) Issuance and enforcement of subpoenas
- (A) Issuance
  - Subpoenas issued under paragraph (1) or (2) shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and shall be served by any person or class of persons designated by the Chairperson for that purpose.
- (B) Enforcement
  - In the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph (1) or (2), the United States district court for the judicial district in which the subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue an order requiring such person to appear at any designated place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of that court.
(4) Witness allowances and fees
- Section 1821 of title 28, United States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear at any hearing of the Commission. The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of the Commission.
(5) Information from the congressional budget office and office of management and budget
- The Commission may secure directly from the Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget such information, including estimates and analysis, as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office or Office of Management and Budget shall furnish such information, including estimates and analysis, to the Commission.
(6) Information from the library of congress
- Upon the request of the Commission, the Librarian of Congress shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services, research services, and research staff necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.

(1) Placement on calendar
- Upon introduction in the Senate, the Commission bill shall be placed immediately on the calendar.
(2) Proceeding to consideration
- (A) In general
  - Notwithstanding rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 90 legislative days after the date the Commission bill is introduced in the Senate (even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill.
- (B) Procedure
  - For a motion to proceed to the consideration of the Commission bill—
    - (i) all points of order against the motion are waived;
    - (ii) the motion is not debatable;
    - (iii) the motion is not subject to a motion to postpone;
    - (iv) a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order; and
    - (v) if the motion is agreed to, the Commission bill shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
(3) Floor consideration
- (A) In general
  - If the Senate proceeds to consideration of the Commission bill—
    - (i) all points of order against the Commission bill (and against consideration of the Commission bill) are waived;
    - (ii) consideration of the Commission bill, and all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not more than 30 hours, which shall be divided equally between the majority and minority leaders or their designees;
    - (iii) a motion further to limit debate is in order and not debatable;
    - (iv) an amendment to, a motion to postpone, or a motion to commit the Commission bill is not in order; and
    - (v) a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business is not in order.
- (B) Vote on passage
  - In the Senate—
    - (i) the vote on passage shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the consideration of the Commission bill, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules of the Senate; and
    - (ii) the Commission bill shall be agreed to upon a vote of a majority of the Members present and voting, a quorum being present.
- (C) Rulings of the chair on procedure
  - Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of this subsection or the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to the Commission bill shall be decided without debate.

People CARE Act · Introduced in House (2025-01-03) · Congress.wiki