[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6561 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6561

 To increase funding of the block grant to States for social services, 
 to provide for the increased funding to be used to provide a gasoline 
   subsidy to certain low-income individuals, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2008

Mr. McDermott introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To increase funding of the block grant to States for social services, 
 to provide for the increased funding to be used to provide a gasoline 
   subsidy to certain low-income individuals, 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 ``Emergency Gasoline Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY GASOLINE STAMPS FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES.

    (a) Increase in Funding for the Social Services Block Grant.--For 
purposes of subsections (a) and (b) of section 2003 of the Social 
Security Act, the amount specified in subsection (c) of such section 
for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 is deemed to be the amount that 
otherwise applies for purposes of such subsection plus $2,500,000,000.
    (b) Use of Funds.--To the extent that an amount is paid to a State 
under section 2002 of the Social Security Act by reason of subsection 
(a) of this section, the State shall use the amount only to provide a 
subsidy to assist individuals who operate motor vehicles and are 
members of families with incomes that do not exceed 300 percent of the 
Federal poverty line to purchase gasoline, and shall target the subsidy 
to individuals in families that demonstrate the greatest need for the 
subsidy, which should be used primarily to purchase gasoline for 
transportation related to employment (including transportation to child 
care facilities).
    (c) Eligibility of States for Increased Funding.--The Secretary may 
not make a payment to a State under section 2002 of the Social Security 
Act by reason of subsection (a), unless the State has submitted to the 
Secretary a plan which--
            (1) details the criteria the State will use to determine 
        eligibility for the subsidy referred to in subsection (b);
            (2) ensures that the subsidy is provided to individuals 
        with the greatest need for the subsidy;
            (3) describes the procedures which the States will use to 
        reduce fraud or abuse in the provision of the subsidy;
            (4) prescribes the minimum and maximum amount of the 
        subsidy;
            (5) describes how and when the subsidy will be provided to 
        eligible individuals; and
            (6) the identity of the State agency which will administer 
        the program under which the subsidy is to be provided.
    (d) Treatment of Subsidy.--A subsidy provided to an individual 
pursuant to subsection (b) shall not be considered to be income or a 
resource for purposes of any Federal or federally assisted program the 
eligibility for which, or the amount or type of benefits or services 
provided under which, is based, in whole or in part, on need, shall not 
be included in gross income for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986, and shall not be considered assistance provided under a State 
program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act.
    (e) Guidance.--The Secretary shall provide guidance to assist 
States with developing the plan required by subsection (c), and shall 
suggest best practices which the States should use in administering the 
program under which the subsidy referred to in subsection (b) is to be 
provided.
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