Congress has been debating reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and changes to related programs, including child care and child support, since the program first came up for renewal in 2002. In March of this year, the Senate Finance Committee passed reauthorization legislation (S. 667) which awaits consideration by the full Senate.
The House shortly thereafter passed a reauthorization bill (H.R. 240) through a subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, but did not take further action on that bill, and instead included a modified version in a much larger "budget reconciliation" bill (H.R. 4241) passed by the full House in November. It remains to be seen whether the two chambers will resolve their differences through the budget reconciliation process, or whether TANF reauthorization will be addressed instead through stand-alone legislation either this year or at a future time.
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