Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the Adminstrative for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state’s reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assitance for Needy Families (TANF) program (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that the rules provide that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (Sec. 2):

• Support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and

• Offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports.

• Specifies that under current law TANF funds may be used to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that in the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they have become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standards (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text