[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3243 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3243

To direct the Bureau of the Census to publish improved annual measures 
 of family income for use in more accurately determining the extent of 
  poverty in the United States and the anti-poverty effectiveness of 
     means-tested benefit and tax programs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2007

     Mr. Weller of Illinois (for himself and Mr. Camp of Michigan) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                    Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Bureau of the Census to publish improved annual measures 
 of family income for use in more accurately determining the extent of 
  poverty in the United States and the anti-poverty effectiveness of 
     means-tested benefit and tax programs, 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 ``Poverty Measurement Improvement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVED MEASURES OF INCOME AND POVERTY.

    (a) In General.--In order to more accurately determine the extent 
of poverty in the United States, and the anti-poverty effectiveness of 
means-tested benefit and tax programs, the Bureau of the Census shall 
publish annually statistics on levels of family income in the United 
States. Such statistics shall be based on at least each of the 
following:
            (1) Full benefits poverty income.--This income measure 
        shall be equal to the sum of partial benefits poverty income 
        and noncash benefits (including food stamps, housing subsidies, 
        the actuarial value of health coverage, and any other State or 
        Federal means-tested benefits) attributable to the members of 
        the household involved, including non-related members.
            (2) Full benefits and taxes poverty income.--This income 
        measure shall be equal to full benefits poverty income, 
        increased by State and Federal earned income tax credits, 
        refundable child credits, and any other refundable tax credit, 
        and decreased by State and Federal income and payroll taxes, 
        attributable to the members of the household involved, 
        including non-related members.
    (b) Definition of Partial Benefits Poverty Income.--For purposes of 
this section, the term ``partial benefits poverty income'' means money 
income, as defined by the Bureau of the Census for purposes of any 
survey relating to income or poverty in the United States.
    (c) Rates and Other Data.--The Bureau of the Census shall use the 
measures of income described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection 
(a) to produce corresponding tables and graphs showing for each year 
the following (and related data):
            (1) The partial benefits poverty rate.
            (2) The full benefits poverty rate.
            (3) The full benefits and taxes poverty rate.
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