119th Congress · introduced in the House · May 19, 2026
Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Jun 3, 2026): POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Social Welfare
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Reported to House (May 29, 2026)
Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
This bill limits how and when states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and establishes an eligibility threshold for all TANF-funded assistance and services.
Currently, each state sets its own eligibility threshold for TANF-funded cash assistance. The bill establishes an upper limit on eligibility applicable to all assistance and services (including non-cash benefits) funded by TANF family assistance grants. Under this provision, only families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may receive TANF-funded assistance and services.
Further, the bill generally requires states to obligate TANF funds by the end of the fiscal year after they are paid and to spend funds by the end of the second fiscal year after they are paid. However, states may reserve a specified portion of their TANF funds for future use. (There is currently no requirement to use TANF funds within a specified period.)
The bill also explicitly requires states to use federal TANF funds to supplement, not replace, state and local funding for TANF-supported programs. (Current law requires states to spend a specified minimum amount on TANF-eligible activities and populations, known as the maintenance of effort requirement.)
States must also take specified steps to track and report on improper payments of federal funds (e.g., overpayments, underpayments, payments to ineligible recipients). Within one year of enactment, HHS must submit to Congress a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by states under the TANF program within 10 years.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1333. (consideration: CR H3805-3810; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3805-3806)
Rule H. Res. 1333 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1333 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 8646, H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892 and H.R. 8872. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8646 under a structured rule and H.R. 7726, H.R. 7892, and H.R. 8872 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each bill. The resolution provides for one motion to recommit on each bill.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 584.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-670.
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 19.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Congressional oversight · Government information and archives · Intergovernmental relations · Poverty and welfare assistance · State and local finance · State and local government operations
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Coverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
8 citations.
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING · lobbying firm or registrant: MASON CONSULTING, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Budget/Appropriations
$30,000
Paid to lobbying firm
….R. 8464, Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act H.R. 8646, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 8872, Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act H.R. 9022, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 9260, Departments of…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS · lobbying firm or registrant: MASON CONSULTING, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 21, 2026 · issue area: Budget/Appropriations
$24,000
Paid to lobbying firm
…Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 8646, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 8872, Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act H.R. 9022, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 9260, Departments of…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR NURSING · lobbying firm or registrant: MASON CONSULTING, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 22, 2026 · issue area: Budget/Appropriations
$29,067
Paid to lobbying firm
….R. 8464, Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act H.R. 8646, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 8872, Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act H.R. 9022, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 9260, Departments of…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS · lobbying firm or registrant: MASON CONSULTING, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 22, 2026 · issue area: Budget/Appropriations
$24,000
Paid to lobbying firm
….R. 8464, Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act H.R. 8646, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 8872, Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act H.R. 9022, Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027 H.R. 9260, Departments of…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 21, 2026 · issue area: Welfare
$30,000
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 2242Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF Act HR 8872Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse in TANF Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Education
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…as Schools Act Career and Technical Education related issues H.R.5084, Teacher Loan Forgiveness Enhancement Act H.R.7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026 H.R.8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act Bilingual and dual-language education programs; and English language learners (ELLs) issues Accountability…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Welfare
$630,000
Spent on own lobbying
HR 8872- Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse in TANF Act HR 8464- Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP) · lobbying firm or registrant: CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP)
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 17, 2026 · issue area: Family issues/Abortion/Adoption
$6,100
Spent on own lobbying
…legislation. In support of CCDBG funding in appropriations. Child Care Modernization Act. In opposition to H.R.7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026 and H.R.8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse in TANF Act.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing