Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) led the South Carolina delegation in sending President Donald Trump a letter urging him to award Mr. Bobby Richardson the Medal of Freedom.

Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Mr. Richardson had a stellar career as a second baseman for the New York Yankees, earning eight All-Star selections, three World Series titles, and five Gold Gloves. Beyond baseball, he was honored with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for his character and integrity, served as president of the Baseball Chapel for a decade, and was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His dedication to service extended to the President’s Council for Physical Fitness, making him a deserving candidate for our nation’s highest civilian award.

Background

The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

Mr. Richardson had an illustrious career as the second baseman for the New York Yankees, highlighted by being named an All-Star eight times, winning three World Series titles, and being awarded five Gold Gloves. In 1960, he became the only player in baseball history to win a World Series Most Valuable Player award despite his team not winning the series. On September 17, 1966, his jersey was retired by the Yankees and deemed “Bobby Richardson Day,” becoming just one of ten players to receive this honor.

While his accomplishments on the field were impressive, they pale in comparison to Mr. Richardson’s service to his country and community. He was the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1963, which is given to players whose lives exemplify the character and integrity of the great Lou Gehrig.

Mr. Richardson is a devout Christian and was heavily involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) both during and after his career. Furthermore, he served as president of the Baseball Chapel for ten years after his playing career and served on the President’s Council for Physical Fitness.

Mr. Richardson’s meaningful work both on and off the field showcases how he is deserving of this esteemed honor.

Statement

“Bobby Richardson’s legacy is one of excellence, faith, and service—both on and off the field,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Friday. “A champion in baseball and in life, he has inspired countless others through his unwavering integrity, leadership, and devotion to his community and faith. I am proud to support this effort to award him the Medal of Freedom.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – Last week, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Senator Lindsey Graham sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to award Major James Capers, Jr. the Medal of Honor. 

Major Capers was responsible for incredible acts of valor when his Marine Corps special operations team was ambushed during a mission in Phu Loc, Vietnam in 1967 during the Vietnam War.

Rep. Norman has introduced legislation to award Major James Capers, Jr. the Medal of Honor during the 117 and 118 Congresses.

This letter was cosigned by six Senators and forty Members of Congress.

Background

The Medal of Honor is awarded to a military service member who: “distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

1) While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States;

2) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or

3) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.”

Major James Capers, Jr., born in Lee County, South Carolina, exemplified actions above and beyond the call of duty, more than meeting the requirements for a Medal of Honor when he led his team of nine out of an ambush where they were outnumbered 3:1 during the Vietnam War.

Thanks to the selfless sacrifice by Major Capers, all nine members of the team were brought to safety and survived the attack, though all members of the team, including Major Capers, were injured.

Major Capers, who now resides in North Carolina, served 22 years in the Marine Corps. He served in combat infantry during the Vietnam War, followed by his re-enlistment where he became the first African American to serve in the Marine Corps’ elite special operations unit, Force Recon. 

During his career, Major Capers and his team conducted over 50 classified missions in Vietnam, amphibious assaults, covert missions to rescue POWs, and a recovery mission for a downed B-57 bomber, while enduring countless injuries including a broken leg.

He continually sacrificed himself before his team, earning three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and Combat V, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, three Good Conduct Ribbons, Battle Stars, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, CG Certificate of Merit, and multiple letters of Merit, Appreciation, and Commendation.

Upon returning to the U.S., he then became the face of the “Ask a Marine” recruiting campaign.

At 85 years old, Major James Capers, Jr. continues his public service by mentoring young Marines.

Statements

“Mr. James Capers, Jr. is a legend and should be honored as one,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Wednesday. “He has lived, seen, and done more in this life than most people could dream of. Major Capers has handled every struggle with strength, humility, and grace. He deserves to be honored as a decorated Marine and for his exemplary character.”

“Major James Capers, Jr. has served his nation with great distinction and is an inspiration to all Marines,” said Senator Lindsey Graham. “I am proud to join my colleagues in honoring him for his heroic and selfless action.”

“Major James Capers, Jr. overcame humble beginnings to become an American hero,” said Senator Tim Scott. “His sacrifice and selflessness on behalf of his brothers in arms embody the American spirit and what it means to go above and beyond the call of duty. I’m proud to recommend to President Trump that this great South Carolinian be rightfully awarded with the Medal of Honor.”

“Major James Capers, Jr. is a hero and his battlefield actions during the Vietnam War are worthy of America’s highest military honor,” said Rep. Joe Wilson. “South Carolina is proud of its native son and appreciates his dedicated service to our nation.”

“Major Capers’ courage and sacrifice exemplify the very best of our nation’s ideals. His heroism deserves the highest recognition, and we strongly urge President Trump to award him the Medal of Honor,” said Rep. Nancy Mace.“Honoring Major Capers is not just about recognizing one Marine’s extraordinary service—it’s about reaffirming our nation’s commitment to those who have given everything in defense of our freedoms.”

“Major James Capers’ service and sacrifice exemplify the best of our armed forces. His bravery saved lives and demonstrated exceptional leadership,” said Rep. Sheri Biggs. “I proudly stand with my colleagues in urging President Trump to recognize his remarkable service with the Medal of Honor.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) reintroduced the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act and the Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act.

The Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), and Rep. Keith Self (R-TX). The bill has the support of the National Taxpayers Union, Heritage Action, and Club for Growth

The COST Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Rep. Keith Self (R-TX).

Background Information: Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act

Between student loans and home ownership, the federal government provides various types of direct loans or loan guarantees to individuals and businesses. However, when it comes to making budget assessments in federal loan legislation, Congress does not currently use accounting guidelines that reflect the true value, or net impact, of loan defaults. A supplemental assessment method, fair-value accounting, is a tool that can be used by legislators to calculate a broader measure of an asset’s worth that would consider such risks.

Rep. Norman’s Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act seeks to provide Congress with better oversight and information on market risk in federal lending, ensuring a more accurate assessment of costs to taxpayers. Without fair-value accounting, legislators may continue to misjudge deficit reduction, leading to budget confusion and reckless spending.

The Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act includes several provisions related to fair-value accounting:

(1) Allows the Chair or Ranking Member of the House and Senate Budget Committees to request a supplemental fair-value estimate for any legislation that establishes or makes changes to loan or loan guarantee programs;

(2) Provides CBO to include fair-value estimates in its Budget and Economic Outlook;

(3) Provides the option for Congress to use fair-value estimates to determine budget compliance and enforcement; and

(4) Requires OMB to provide an annual report on fair-value estimates and the costs of federal credit programs.

Background Information: COST Act

The federal government utilizes hundreds of companies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and other entities to implement a wide variety of programs, projects, and other activities. Under current law, entities that receive funding from some federal agencies are required to publicly disclose information about how those dollars are used, and what percentage of a project’s total costs were paid for by taxpayers.

Unfortunately, this law is often ignored by recipients of taxpayer funds and the federal agencies distributing them. Currently, it only applies to the Departments of Labor, Defense, Health & Human Services, Education, and related agencies, resulting in limited transparency on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

The COST Act would improve this by:

(1) Requires the entity disbursing federal funds for a project to certify whether the recipient complied with all necessary disclosure requirements;

(2) Directs the OMB to review a random sampling of public communications issued by agencies and recipients of federal funds and make them available to the public; and

(3) To ensure compliance, this legislation adds avenues for people to report individuals or entities that don’t comply with the requirements set forth in this bill. 

Statements

“For far too long, our government has operated inefficiently, leading to poor lawmaking with hefty costs to the American taxpayer,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Friday. “I am proud to sponsor these budget reform bills to streamline cost estimating and ensure accurate information is given across agencies. Every member of Congress should support greater transparency in government spending.”

On the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act: “The federal government has dramatically expanded its portfolio of direct loan and loan guarantee programs in recent years, exposing taxpayers to systemic and political risks,” said Paul Winfree, President and CEO, of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). “Unfortunately, the way these credit programs are accounted for in the budget understates the actual costs to taxpayers because it fails to account for market risks. Rep. Ralph Norman’s Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act would instead use fair value accounting for credit programs. Even the Congressional Budget Office acknowledges that fair value scoring is a better method.”

On the COST Act: “The American people deserve to know how their money is being spent by their government,” said Paul Winfree, President and CEO, of the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). “The Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act from Rep. Ralph Norman is a commonsense proposal to do just that. This legislation would promote transparency by requiring projects using federal funds to publicly clearly and publicly disclose how much taxpayer money is used.”

“NTU applauds Rep. Ralph Norman for introducing the Fair-Value Accounting and Budget Act, a crucial reform to provide a more accurate assessment of the risks of federal loan programs,” said Nick Johns, Senior Policy and Government Affairs Manager, National Taxpayers Union. “In 2024 alone, taxpayers were on the hook for over $1.5 trillion in loans, yet the current scoring methods obscure the true cost to the federal balance sheet. By adopting fair-value practices, this legislation will provide Congress with a better understanding of the ballooning federal loan liabilities, and help protect taxpayers from hidden fiscal risks.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On February 10th, Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05), along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), filed an “amicus curiae” (or “friend of the Court”) brief in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood. The brief supports South Carolina’s determination that Planned Parenthood does not qualify to receive Medicaid funding. The South Carolina Republicans were joined by 14 other Senators and 76 other members of the House of Representatives.

Background

Under federal law and guidance, states administer Medicaid plans, including deciding which medical providers qualify to receive payments for certain services. In 2018, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered the state’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to deem abortion clinics unqualified to receive Medicaid funding based on their far Planned Parenthood’s largest federal funding source, providing $1.5 billion in reimbursements nationwide over three years. 

Following South Carolina’s determination, Planned Parenthood and one of its clients sued the DHHS Director in federal court claiming a right to force DHHS to reverse that decision. There have been four appeals, each of which Members have supported with similar briefs. 

This brief has the support of Alliance Defending Freedom, Americans United for Life, CatholicVote, Family Research Council, Students for Life, and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Statements

“Private parties like Planned Parenthood have no right to undermine congressional intent by forcing states to say that Planned Parenthood is a qualified Medicaid provider,” said Rep. Norman in a statement on Monday. “South Carolina has every right to determine what qualifies and disqualifies Medicaid healthcare providers operating within our state. That was precisely the intent of Congress. My hope is the Court will see this lawsuit for what it truly is: a misguided attempt to undermine that authority.”

“As a pro-life state, South Carolina taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the abortion industry,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “I am grateful for the support of members of the South Carolina delegation and the many other members of Congress who recognize the importance of this case and are standing with South Carolina as we defend our values.”

“Most Americans oppose their hard-earned tax dollars being used to subsidize abortion,” said Senator Lindsey Graham. “I am honored to join my South Carolina Republican colleagues and lend our voices to Governor Henry McMaster’s effort to make sure Medicaid funding cannot be used by Planned Parenthood in South Carolina in any fashion.”

“The purpose of Medicaid is to provide essential healthcare services to parents and children in underserved communities where access to quality medical care can be limited,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion not only diverts resources away from Medicaid’s mission, but undermines the intent of both the law and the program itself. I’m proud to join my colleagues from South Carolina in standing up for the right to life and against this government overreach.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05)

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act. This legislation seeks to incentivize states to report abortion data to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in order to receive targeted Medicaid funding for family planning programs.

This bill reaffirms that Rep. Norman consistently fights for life, as does his recently earned “A+” on the Susan B. Anthony List National Pro-Life Scorecard.

Rep. Norman had previously introduced this bill in the 116th, 117th, and 118th Congresses.

Background

Currently, states are not required to provide abortion statistics to the CDC, which results in incomplete data regarding abortions and survivors of abortion attempts. There is presently not a reliable single point of abortion data for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

The American taxpayer continues to fund family planning programs despite having little understanding of how effective those programs are at reducing the number of abortions throughout the country. If all states were to submit accurate abortion data to the CDC, lawmakers would be better informed on family planning policy decisions and Medicaid funding for those programs could be more suitably allocated.

Statements

“Abortion is NOT family planning. Because reporting abortion data is voluntary, the data collected severely underestimates the number of abortions taking place. The reality is tax dollars are being blindly allocated to family planning programs without a clear picture of efficiency,” said Rep. Ralph Norman. “If these programs are effective, then we should see states’ abortion rates either lower or trend downwards.”

“Every life is precious, and we cannot allow tax dollars to pay for abortions on demand,” said Senator Ernst. “The full extent of government funding should not be a mystery, and my bill will require transparency from all 50 states. We need a complete and accurate understanding, including tragic cases where babies are born alive during abortions, to ensure that no life is ever ignored, hidden, or forgotten.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)

Michigan’s 12th Congressional District is a beautifully diverse place where Black folks make up the largest plurality, several different ethnicities comprise its population, many languages are spoken, and much of its population is foreign-born. Our residents may have different needs and priorities, but at the most basic level, we must protect civil rights and voting rights and ensure a quality education for all. It is also imperative that we work to help create a better pathway toward citizenship for our immigrant communities. Justice for All Civil Rights Act Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) re-introduced the Justice for All (JFA) Act of 2023, historic legislation that pushes back against decades of conservative court rulings to restore the original intent of our civil rights laws by reaffirming the availability of discrimination claims based on disparate impact. The JFA Act includes a private right of action and a prohibition on forced arbitration, both essential to allowing victims of discrimination, actual or perceived, to vindicate their rights, enjoin discriminatory behavior, and/or receive an award of damages and attorneys’ fees. Specifically, Justice For All restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. America’s most critical civil rights laws have been significantly undermined by conservative court rulings over the years, including the elimination of the availability of civil rights claims based on disparate impact rather than the more difficult to prove discriminatory intent. Tlaib’s bill would result in expanded protections, stronger civil rights, and a more inclusive America by, in part: Amending the aforementioned civil rights laws to prohibit actions which have a discriminatory effect, regardless of any discriminatory intent, and providing tools – including a private right of action – to combat intentional and unintentional discrimination against people based on (actual or perceived) race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Protecting people from discrimination in all aspects of life, including housing, schooling, public accommodations, employment, government facilities, privatized government functions, federally funded programs, and any commercial establishment (online or physical). Prohibiting the use of compelled arbitration clauses, which are frequently used to extinguish consumer and employee rights. Eliminating qualified immunity for government employees, which allows them to escape responsibility for their actions, and establishing that units of government are liable for the acts of their officials, including, most importantly, police officers who violate people’s civil rights. The bill also prohibits racial and gender profiling in police investigations and activity. Holding all employers accountable for the actions of all employees and eliminating court-created defenses that allow employers to escape liability for creating hostile work environments. Giving victims of disparate impact discrimination the compensation they deserve and the attorney’s fees necessary to allow civil rights lawyers to take up their cases. Clarifying the definition of “sex” for purposes of civil rights to include sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity, sex stereotypes, or any sex-related traits. No matter how you identify, our civil rights laws must protect you. A summary of the Justice For All Act can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, DC — Responding to reporting today in the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is moving to freeze tens of millions of dollars in Title X federal family-planning grants, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus’s Contraception, Family Planning, and Education Task Force, released the following statement: 

“I strongly condemn the Trump Administration’s plans to illegally freeze millions of dollars in Title X family planning funds—critical support that millions of people rely on for birth control, STI treatment, cancer screenings, and more. This move isn’t about oversight—it’s about control. The Trump-Vance-Musk administration is targeting organizations such as Planned Parenthood that provide legal abortion care and ripping away other health care in the process under an “anti-DEI” guise. Republicans should just admit their real goals: continue to advance this country to one of forced birth. My colleagues on the Reproductive Freedom Caucus and I will continue using every lever of power we have to fight back in Congress, courts, and the streets.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

The bill would prevent and address intentional misuse of subgrant funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Danny K. Davis (IL-07) – along with their colleagues Gwen Moore (WI-04), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Bennie Thompson (MS-02) – introduced H.R. 2108, the TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act, which would give the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the statutory authority it needs to prevent, monitor, and penalize the intentional misuse of federal funds by contractors and other subrecipient grantees of the $16.5 billion TANF block grant. 

“Public TANF dollars are meant to support low-income families, not be funneled to wealthy individuals and their pet projects—exactly what NFL star Brett Favre did when he conspired with Mississippi officials to direct millions of TANF dollars to build a new volleyball stadium at his daughter’s college,” said Rep. Chu. “Rep. Davis and I are introducing the TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act to address what happened in Mississippi by finally giving the federal government the authority to oversee states’ use of non-cash assistance TANF funds, which is about 80% of all TANF spending. Our legislation would also require states to recover misused funds and reinvest them in low-income families. As our Republican colleagues regularly decry the fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, I would think that joining us on this legislation would be a no-brainer.”

“Democrats are committed to increasing stability and reducing adversity for low-income children and families. When used correctly, cash assistance is a critical tool in lifting families out of poverty,” said Rep. Davis. “The TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act will prevent and address intentional misuse of federal cash assistance by contractors to ensure children and families – and not fraudsters – benefit from this critical federal investment.” 

HHS is prohibited by law from issuing regulations to monitor TANF contractors and subgrant recipients and ensure that they are penalized, even for egregious misuse like what occurred recently in Mississippi.

The TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act gives the HHS Secretary the ability to establish a formal system to closely monitor the use of TANF funds, ensures consistent data reporting to identify misuse, and creates a TANF Program Integrity Unit to carry out grantee monitoring. The bill would also impose a new penalty for intentional misuse of funds where the state must spend at least an equivalent amount of the misused funds in the form of cash assistance directly to families who are very low income. 

“When designing TANF, Republicans neglected to include proper accountability measures to prevent states misuse of TANF funds. As a result, TANF is failing the vulnerable individuals it was supposedly meant to help.  When federal dollars are intentionally diverted from beneficiaries into the hands of bad actors, it hurts the women, children, and families who are struggling with poverty.  These new tools will help ensure that the federal government can take action against bad actor contractors or others who prey on TANF for their own benefit while increasing accountability for states,” said Rep. Moore.

“I thank Ranking Member Davis for his leadership on this issue,” said Rep. Evans. “This bill would bring much-needed accountability to help ensure that these lifeline benefits reach those in need. Most TANF recipients are children. About half of the families receiving TANF income support include a child under age 5, and a quarter of TANF households include infants.”

“Federal assistance should help working parents and kids who need it, not the ultra-wealthy who exploit the system for their own benefit,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Our TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act will ensure these funds are used as intended—not wasted on luxury projects for the rich and famous.”

“I have witnessed the ongoing mismanagement of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in my home state of Mississippi, particularly by greedy ineligible individuals,” said Rep. Thompson. “H.R. 2108 is essential to correcting the misuse of federal resources meant to assist our families in need. It is time we put a stop to wealthy individuals benefiting from TANF funding meant to help needy families.”

Click here for a summary of the bill.

Click here for a section-by-section of the bill.