[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3897 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3897

To reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant 
         program through June 30, 2004, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2004

  Mr. Herger introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 
    and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant 
         program through June 30, 2004, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Welfare Extension and Marriage 
Promotion Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES BLOCK 
              GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004.

    (a) In General.--Activities authorized by part A of title IV of the 
Social Security Act (except section 403(a)(2) of such Act, as in effect 
during fiscal year 2002), and by sections 510, 1108(b), and 1925 of 
such Act, shall continue through June 30, 2004, in the manner 
authorized for fiscal year 2002, notwithstanding section 1902(e)(1)(A) 
of such Act, and out of any money in the Treasury of the United States 
not otherwise appropriated, there are hereby appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary for such purpose. Grants and payments may be made 
pursuant to this authority through the third quarter of fiscal year 
2004 at the level provided for such activities through the third 
quarter of fiscal year 2002.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 403(a)(3)(H)(ii) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(3)(H)(ii)) is amended by striking 
``March 31'' and inserting ``June 30''.

SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF THE NATIONAL RANDOM SAMPLE STUDY OF CHILD WELFARE 
              AND CHILD WELFARE WAIVER AUTHORITY THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004.

    Activities authorized by sections 429A and 1130(a) of the Social 
Security Act shall continue through June 30, 2004, in the manner 
authorized for fiscal year 2002, and out of any money in the Treasury 
of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are hereby 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for such purpose. Grants and 
payments may be made pursuant to this authority through the third 
quarter of fiscal year 2004 at the level provided for such activities 
through the third quarter of fiscal year 2002.

SEC. 4. HEALTHY MARRIAGE PROMOTION GRANTS; REPEAL OF BONUS FOR 
              REDUCTION OF ILLEGITIMACY RATIO.

    Section 403(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)) 
is amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Healthy marriage promotion grants.--
                    ``(A) Authority.--The Secretary shall award 
                competitive grants to States, territories, and tribal 
                organizations for not more than 50 percent of the cost 
                of developing and implementing innovative programs to 
                promote and support healthy, married, 2-parent 
                families.
                    ``(B) Healthy marriage promotion activities.--Funds 
                provided under subparagraph (A) shall be used to 
                support any of the following programs or activities:
                            ``(i) Public advertising campaigns on the 
                        value of marriage and the skills needed to 
                        increase marital stability and health.
                            ``(ii) Education in high schools on the 
                        value of marriage, relationship skills, and 
                        budgeting.
                            ``(iii) Marriage education, marriage 
                        skills, and relationship skills programs, that 
                        may include parenting skills, financial 
                        management, conflict resolution, and job and 
                        career advancement, for non-married pregnant 
                        women and non-married expectant fathers.
                            ``(iv) Pre-marital education and marriage 
                        skills training for engaged couples and for 
                        couples or individuals interested in marriage.
                            ``(v) Marriage enhancement and marriage 
                        skills training programs for married couples.
                            ``(vi) Divorce reduction programs that 
                        teach relationship skills.
                            ``(vii) Marriage mentoring programs which 
                        use married couples as role models and mentors 
                        in at-risk communities.
                            ``(viii) Programs to reduce the 
                        disincentives to marriage in means-tested aid 
                        programs, if offered in conjunction with any 
                        activity described in this subparagraph.
                    ``(C) Appropriation.--Out of any money in the 
                Treasury of the United States not otherwise 
                appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 
                2004 $50,000,000 for grants under this paragraph.''.

SEC. 5. SECRETARY'S FUND FOR RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND TECHNICAL 
              ASSISTANCE.

    Section 413 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 613) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(k) Funding for Research, Demonstrations, and Technical 
Assistance.--Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not 
otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2004, which shall be available to the Secretary for the purpose of 
conducting and supporting research and demonstration projects by public 
or private entities, and providing technical assistance to States, 
Indian tribal organizations, and such other entities as the Secretary 
may specify that are receiving a grant under this part, which shall be 
expended primarily on activities described in section 403(a)(2)(B), and 
which shall be in addition to any other funds made available under this 
part.''.
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