Congressman Yakym introduces legislation to uplift Americans in need

Tuesday, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) introduced his Reducing Bureaucracy to Uplift Families Act (H.R. 2284). The legislation aims to ensure more Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds go directly to families in need rather than bureaucratic overhead. 

“For far too long, excessive federal bureaucracy has squandered taxpayer dollars on unnecessary administrative costs, diverting funds away from families in need,” said Rep. Yakym. “This bill will set a firm cap on administrative spending, enhancing the efficiency of our government programs and ensuring that resources reach Hoosiers and Americans who need them most as they transition from government dependence to government independence.” 

“It is critical that TANF funds are used to remove barriers to work and help individuals realize their full potential,” said Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood. “I commend Representative Yakym for introducing the Reducing Bureaucracy to Uplift Families Act, which will help families find pathways into the workforce, rather than grow government bureaucracy. This commonsense piece of legislation will ensure that the TANF program works better for the people it is intended to serve.”

Full bill text can be found here.

Background:

The Reducing Bureaucracy to Uplift Families Act reduces the maximum percentage of TANF funds that states use for administrative expenses from 15% to 10%. This will ensure that more government funds go directly toward services and support for families in need.

Funds used for case management to develop individual responsibility plans are still considered eligible expenses, ensuring crucial support and services are maintained.

To enforce these changes, if a state exceeds the 10% limit on administrative expenses, the Secretary of Health and Human Services can impose a penalty by reducing the state’s TANF grant by up to 5% for the following fiscal year.