[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 4498 Introduced in House (IH)] 103d CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4498 To provide additional assistance to persons receiving aid to families with dependent children who are most likely to use the assistance to end their welfare dependence. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 1994 Mrs. Mink of Hawaii (for herself, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Clay, Mrs. Clayton, Miss Collins of Michigan, Mr. Dellums, Mr. Edwards of California, Mr. Engel, Mr. Evans, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Filner, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Hamburg, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Martinez, Ms. McKinney, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Mineta, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Mr. Olver, Mr. Owens, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Payne of New Jersey, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Rush, Mrs. Schroeder, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Towns, Mr. Underwood, Mrs. Unsoeld, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Washington, Ms. Waters, Mr. Watt, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Yates, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Foglietta) introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, and Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To provide additional assistance to persons receiving aid to families with dependent children who are most likely to use the assistance to end their welfare dependence. 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 ``Job Start for America Act of 1994''. SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. TITLE I--AFDC AMENDMENTS Sec. 101. Benefits for first phase families. Sec. 102. Continuation of AFDC benefits for second phase families for 2 years while working. Sec. 103. Increase in resource threshold. Sec. 104. Job training and job search counseling. Sec. 105. Definitions. Sec. 106. Elimination of the JOBS program. Sec. 107. Elimination of rules that treat families differently based on number of parents in the home. TITLE II--HOUSING AMENDMENTS Sec. 201. Temporary exclusion of earned income for purposes of determining rent paid for units in federally assisted housing. TITLE III--FOOD STAMP AMENDMENT Sec. 301. Continuation of benefits. Sec. 302. Application of amendment. TITLE IV--HEAD START AMENDMENT Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations for full-day and full-year services. TITLE V--EFFECTIVE DATE Sec. 501. Effective date. TITLE I--AFDC AMENDMENTS SEC. 101. BENEFITS FOR FIRST PHASE FAMILIES. (a) Child Care.-- (1) Vouchers.--Section 402 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(j)(1) Each State agency shall provide to the caretaker relative of each first phase family in the State vouchers entitling any child care provider who meets applicable standards of State and local law and who receives such a voucher to payments from the State equal to the provider's cost of providing child care with respect to the family. ``(2) The value of a voucher provided under this subsection-- ``(A) shall not be treated as income for purposes of any Federal or federally assisted program that bases eligibility for, or the amount of, benefits upon need; and ``(B) may not be claimed as an employment-related expense for purposes of the credit under section 21 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''. (2) Payments to states.--Section 403 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(o) Each State shall be entitled to payment from the Secretary of an amount equal to the expenditures by the State under section 402(j) for any fiscal year.''. (3) Availability for children whose parents are in job training.--Section 402(g)(1)(A) of such Act, as amended by section 105(b)(3) of this Act, is amended by striking ``or remain employed'' and inserting ``, remain employed, or participate in job training activities''. (b) Continuation of AFDC Benefits for 2 Years While Working.-- Section 402(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (44); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (45) and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (45) the following: ``(46) provide that a first phase family (as defined in section 406(d)(1)) shall not be eligible for aid under the State plan after the earlier of-- ``(A) the 2-year period that begins with the date the parent who is the principal earner for the family becomes gainfully employed; or ``(B) the 6-month period that begins with the date the income of the family exceeds 300 percent of the poverty line.''. (c) 6-Month Disregard of Assets of Spouse who Marries AFDC Recipient.--Section 402(a)(7)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(B)) is amended-- (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of clause (iii); and (2) by inserting ``, or (v) in the case of a family receiving such aid the caretaker relative for whom marries an individual in a month, any asset of the individual, but only for the 6-month period that begins with the month after the month in which the marriage occurs'' before the semicolon. SEC. 102. CONTINUATION OF AFDC BENEFITS FOR SECOND PHASE FAMILIES FOR 2 YEARS WHILE WORKING. Section 402(a)(46) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(46)), as added by section 101(b)(3) of this Act, is amended by inserting ``or a second phase family (as defined in section 406(d)(2))'' before ``shall not''. SEC. 103. INCREASE IN RESOURCE THRESHOLD. Section 402(a)(7)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(7)(B)) is amended by striking ``$1,000 or such lower amount as the State may determine'' and inserting ``$2,500''. SEC. 104. JOB TRAINING AND JOB SEARCH COUNSELING. Section 402(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)), as amended by section 101(b) of this Act, is amended-- (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (45); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (46) and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (46) the following: ``(47) provide that-- ``(A) the State agency shall provide job training and job search counseling to all recipients of aid under the State plan, including-- ``(i) educational activities (as appropriate), including high school or equivalent education (combined with training as needed), basic and remedial education to achieve a basic literacy level, and education for individuals with limited English proficiency; ``(ii) job skills training; ``(iii) job readiness activities to help prepare participants for work; and ``(iv) job development and job placement; and ``(B) the State agency shall not make such job training or job search counseling available to any second phase family until such job training and job search counseling has been made available to each first phase family, and shall not make such job training or job search counseling available to any family that is not a first phase family or a second phase family until such job training and job search counseling has been made available to each second phase family.''. SEC. 105. DEFINITIONS. Section 406(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 606(d)) is amended to read as follows: ``(d)(1) The term `first phase family' means a qualified family the parent who is the principal earner for which has ever been gainfully employed for 3 or more months (whether or not consecutive). ``(2) The term `second phase family' means a qualified family the parent who is the principal earner for which-- ``(A) has graduated from secondary school or has a certificate of high school equivalency; and ``(B) has never been gainfully employed. ``(3) The term `qualified family' means a family that-- ``(A) is a recipient of aid to families with dependent children under a State plan approved under this part; and ``(B) includes a dependent child who is eligible for benefits under the Head Start program or who has attained 6 years of age. ``(4) The term `poverty line' means, with respect to a family, the income official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) applicable to a family of the same size as the family.''. SEC. 106. ELIMINATION OF THE JOBS PROGRAM. (a) In General.-- (1) Section 402(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (19). (2) Section 403 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 603) is amended by striking subsections (k) and (l), except that subparagraph (A) of section 403(l)(3) shall remain in effect for purposes of applying any reduction in payment rates required by such subparagraph for any of the fiscal years specified in such subparagraph. (3) Part F of title IV of such Act is hereby repealed. (b) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Section 402(a)(9)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(9)(A)) is amended by striking ``(including activities under part F)''. (2) Section 402(a)(44)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(44)(A)) is amended by striking ``, part D, and part F'' and inserting ``and part D''. (3) Section 402(g)(1)(A)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(g)(1)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``--'' and all that follows and inserting ``for each family with a dependent child requiring such care, to the extent that such care is determined by the State agency to be necessary for an individual in the family to accept employment or remain employed.''. (4) Section 402(g) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(g)) is amended by striking paragraph (2). (5) Section 417 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 617) is amended by striking ``, part D, and part F'' and inserting ``and part D''. (6) Section 471(a)(8)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(8)(A)) is amended by striking ``(including activities under part F)''. (7) Section 1115(b)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315(b)(2)(A)) is amended by striking ``, and 402(a)(19) (relating to the work incentive program)''. (8) Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended-- (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``or, in the case of part A of title IV, section 403(k)''; and (B) in subsection (d), by striking ``(exclusive of any amounts on account of services and items to which, in the case of part A of such title, section 403(k) applies)''. (9) Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(I) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(19)(A)(i)(I)) is amended by striking ``, or considered by the State to be receiving such aid as authorized by section 482(e)(6)''. (10) Section 1928(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396s(a)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (D). (11) Section 51(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking subparagraph (B). SEC. 107. ELIMINATION OF RULES THAT TREAT FAMILIES DIFFERENTLY BASED ON NUMBER OF PARENTS IN THE HOME. (a) In General.-- (1) Section 402(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (41) and (42). (2) Section 407 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 607) is hereby repealed. (b) Conforming Amendments.-- (1) Section 402(a)(38)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(38)(B)) is amended by striking ``or in section 407(a)''. (2) Section 406(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 606(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``who has been deprived'' and all that follows through ``incapacity of a parent''. (3) Section 406(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 606(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``and if such relative'' and all that follows through ``section 407''. (4) Section 472(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672(a)) is amended by striking ``or of section 407''. (5) Section 473(a)(2)(A)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672(a)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by striking ``or section 407''. (6) Section 1115(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (5). (7) Section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) is amended by striking subsection (d). (8) Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)) is amended by striking subclause (V) and by redesignating subclauses (VI) and (VII) as subclauses (V) and (VI), respectively. (9) Section 1905 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d) is amended by striking subsection (m). (10) Section 1905(n)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(n)(1)) is amended-- (A) in subparagraph (A)-- (i) by striking ``(or'' and all that follows through ``407)''; and (ii) by adding ``or'' at the end; and (B) by striking subparagraph (B). TITLE II--HOUSING AMENDMENTS SEC. 201. TEMPORARY EXCLUSION OF EARNED INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING RENT PAID FOR UNITS IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount of rent payable for a qualified dwelling unit by a family (1) whose income increases as a result of employment of a member of the family who was previously unemployed, and (2) who was receiving aid to families with dependent children under a State plan approved under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act immediately before such employment, may not be increased because of the increased income due to such employment for the 24-month period beginning upon the commencement of such employment. (b) Qualified Dwelling Unit.--For purposes of this section, the term ``qualified dwelling unit'' means a dwelling unit-- (1) for which assistance is provided by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the form of any grant, contract, loan, loan guarantee, cooperative agreement, rental assistance payment, interest subsidy, insurance, or direct appropriation, or that is located in a project for which such assistance is provided; and (2) for which the amount of rent paid by the occupying family is limited, restricted, or determined under law or regulation based on the income of the family. TITLE III--FOOD STAMP AMENDMENT SEC. 301. CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS. Section 5(c) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2014(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of a household that includes a member who is employed and who in the then most recent 2-year period participated fully in the job training and job search counseling described in section 402(a)(47) of the Social Security Act and provided under a State plan approved under part A of title IV of such Act, all earned income shall be excluded for purposes of determining eligibility under such standards unless the aggregate income of such household exceeds the poverty line by more than 300 percent.''. SEC. 302. APPLICATION OF AMENDMENT. The amendment made by section 301 shall not apply with respect to certification periods beginning before the date of the enactment of this Act. TITLE IV--HEAD START AMENDMENT SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FULL-DAY AND FULL-YEAR SERVICES. Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(d) There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000 to provide Head Start services during the full working day and the full calendar year.''. TITLE V--EFFECTIVE DATE SEC. 501. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>