[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9323 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9323
To establish a task force on child and family economic security and
stability for economic growth.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 16, 2022
Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Mr. Evans, Ms. Chu, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr.
Garcia of Illinois, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a task force on child and family economic security and
stability for economic growth.
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 ``Lifting American Children From
Poverty Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the United States Census Bureau, poverty
rates for children under the age of 18 have increased to 16.1
percent in 2020, from 14.4 percent in 2019. The increase means
that now 11,600,000 children live in poverty, as opposed to
10,000,000 in 2019.
(2) Data from the Children's Defense Fund show that child
poverty is an issue that is concentrated in the American south,
with statistics showing that Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee,
Texas, and West Virginia have over a quarter of their child
population living in poverty.
(3) A 2018 Social Work Research report estimated that the
annual economic costs of child poverty was $36,000,000,000 to
$177,000,000,000, demonstrating how child poverty stalls
economic productivity.
(4) Recent data from the Census Bureau Current Population
Survey shows that child poverty increased sharply during the
COVID-19 pandemic among Black and Latino families. More
specifically, child poverty rose by 4.2 percent in Latino
families and 2.8 percent in Black families.
(5) A report from the Urban Institute demonstrates that
poverty is closely associated with a lack of educational
achievement. For instance, only 64 percent of persistently poor
children graduate from high school.
(6) The problem of child poverty also acutely affects
children of color, with 1 in 5 living in poverty. Another
statistic from the Children's Defense Fund (2019) shows that 71
percent of children living in poverty were children of color.
Children of color are also 2.5 times more likely to live in
poverty than their White counterparts.
(7) The Census Bureau Current Population Survey also shows
that COVID-19 erased recent gains in the United States toward
combating child poverty. In September 2020, child poverty rates
were at its lowest since 1973.
(8) 3.4 percent of families reported not having enough to
eat prepandemic, but during the pandemic that number rose to 12
percent according to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
analysis. Among households with children, that number was 16
percent.
(9) Data published by the National Public Radio show that
the child tax credit cut monthly child poverty rates by 30
percent and kept 3,700,000 children out of poverty. In
addition, 91 percent of low-income families spent the tax
credit on basic needs, such as food. The monthly payments cut
food insufficiency by 25 percent.
SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish an interagency task force
that would create a strategic and comprehensive plan to reduce child
poverty, particularly in States with higher poverty rates than the
national average of 21 percent, by--
(1) analyzing the state of child and intergenerational
poverty and its causes;
(2) creating an inventory of all available Federal programs
aimed at reducing child poverty; and
(3) making recommendations for improving the effectiveness
and efficiency of Federal programs that reduce child poverty.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON CHILD POVERTY.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, and Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall convene a permanent task force on child and family
economic security and stability for economic growth (in this Act
referred to as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Permanent Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of the
following officials (or their designees):
(1) The Secretary of Labor, who shall serve as a co-chair
of the Task Force.
(2) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who
shall serve as a co-chair of the Task Force.
(3) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, who shall
serve as a co-chair of the Task Force.
(4) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
(5) The Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
(6) The Secretary of Education.
(7) The Secretary of the Treasury.
(8) The Director of the Bureau of the Census.
(9) Such other officials of Federal departments and
agencies as the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting jointly, may designate or invite (as
appropriate) to serve on the Task Force.
(c) Rotational Membership.--The Secretary of Labor and the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Health
and Human Services shall, jointly, nominate the following members to
the task force for a period not to exceed 2 years:
(1) Two experts on child poverty. The experts nominated
under this paragraph must have conducted and published a
significant body of research on child poverty issues.
(2) Two local government representatives from States
exhibiting child poverty rates of 22 percent or more who have
responsibilities in allocating, distributing or determining
eligibility for means-tested benefits.
(3) Two representatives from nonprofit, community serving
organizations working to address child poverty through
evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches, which meet the
scientifically based methods definition of this Act.
(4) Two representatives from State-level labor or health
and human services agencies in States with above average child
poverty rates.
(5) Two representatives from the private sector that have
engaged in corporate social responsibility efforts in low-
income communities, and who have measured success using metrics
that are grounded on scientifically based methods.
(6) One representative with expertise in program evaluation
and evidence-based policymaking.
(7) One representative with expertise in program evaluation
or implementation with Indian Tribes.
(d) Term.--Except as noted in subsection (c), each member shall be
appointed for the life of the Task Force.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the
manner in which the original appointment was made.
(f) Pay.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
members of the Task Force shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) Quorum.--A majority of members of the Task Force shall
constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
SEC. 5. POWERS AND DUTIES.
(a) Powers of the Task Force.--
(1) Hearings and sessions.--The Task Force may, for the
purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and
act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence
as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before
it.
(2) Stakeholders.--The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, acting jointly, shall, as appropriate, invite
representatives of stakeholders to attend meetings of the Task
Force, appear before the Task Force, and file statements with
the Task Force, subject to such requirements as the Secretaries
may determine.
(3) Powers of members and agents.--Any member or agent of
the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task Force, take any
action which the Task Force is authorized to take by this
section.
(4) Obtaining official data.--The Task Force may secure
directly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable it to carry out this section.
Upon request of the chairperson of the Task Force, the head of
that department or agency shall furnish that information to the
Task Force.
(5) Mails.--The Task Force may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
(6) Administrative support services.--Upon the request of
the Task Force, the Administrator of General Services shall
provide to the Task Force, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services necessary for the Task Force to
carry out its responsibilities under this section.
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall submit to the President and
Congress, a strategic plan to reduce child poverty, with emphasis and
prioritization of those States experiencing higher than average poverty
rates. Such plan shall require the Task Force to--
(1) analyze the state of poverty in States experiencing
higher than average child policy to identify common themes or
patterns;
(2) create an inventory of existing Federal programs
targeting child poverty, and the different factors that lead to
it including education, labor, child care and development,
health, and housing;
(3) identify duplicative programs, gaps in coverage or
programming, and programs that would benefit from flexibility
to blend and braid funding;
(4) analyze evidence of the effectiveness of Federal
programs in the inventory to promote continuous improvement and
to assure accountability;
(5) provide recommendations, giving priority preference for
States exhibiting above average poverty, on how to enhance,
streamline, scale, improve, expand effective programs or
repurpose ineffective programs, through legislative, executive
and agency actions, including--
(A) new allocations in funding, for the expansion
of effective programs;
(B) pilot initiatives to improve the performance of
underperforming Federal programs and initiatives, which
shall be prioritized for States experiencing above
average child poverty;
(C) considering tiered evidence grant making to
develop, implement, replicate, scale, and evaluate
evidence-based innovations;
(D) considering flexibility and waiver pilots to
streamline programming;
(E) considering Pay for Success initiatives, when
appropriate; and
(F) considering repurposing ineffective programs;
(6) recommendations must also include recommendations with
the intention of creating, enhancing or improving partnerships
among Federal, State, local governments, Indian tribes and the
private, academic, and nonprofit sectors;
(7) study the effect of the child tax credit under section
24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in cutting child
poverty and the effect of an expanded and permanent child tax
credit;
(8) the Task Force must consider approaches that are
potentially successful in urban and rural environments;
(9) the Task Force must consider the needs of immigrant or
limited English language speaking communities, when
appropriate;
(10) the Task Force must consider the needs of Indian
tribes;
(11) provide policy guidance and strategies on developing
coordinated, coherent, and cohesive cross-agency implementation
of actions and budgeting, with an emphasis on data and
appropriate metrics;
(12) devise comprehensive action plans, including multiyear
and annual priorities;
(13) create an accountability mechanism that would allow
Congress to monitor progress in States' child poverty rates,
and hold States accountable in instances of minimal
improvement, stagnant progress or noncompliance; and
(14) consider, and adopt mechanisms that are documented,
using scientifically based methods, to effectively reduce child
poverty, which may include--
(A) tiered evidence grantmaking that allocates
funding based on the level of evidence provided, with
smaller awards made to test new and innovative service
models and larger awards made to scale service models
with stronger evidence;
(B) increased flexibility to braid and blend funds
by allowing for improved coordination, comprehensive
multigenerational programming and streamlining of
Federal funding; and
(C) pay for success initiatives that tie payment
for service delivery to the achievement of measurable
outcomes.
(c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--The Task Force shall not consider or
adopt strategies that would supplant State or local funds.
SEC. 6. PROVISION OF STAFF, EXPERTS, AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) Director.--The Task Force shall have a director who shall be
appointed by the co-chairs, acting jointly.
(b) Staff Appointments.--Subject to rules prescribed by the Task
Force, the co-chairs, acting jointly, may appoint additional personnel
as the co-chairs consider appropriate.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The director and
staff of the Task Force shall be appointed subject to the provisions of
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(d) Experts and Consultants.--Subject to rules prescribed by the
Task Force, the co-chairs, acting jointly, may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code.
(e) Staff to Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the co-chairs,
acting jointly, the head of any Federal department or agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that
department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying out its
duties under this section.
SEC. 7. INITIAL REPORT.
(a) First Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall provide to the Secretary
of Labor and Congress a report that includes--
(1) a description of the state of poverty in States with
child poverty rates of 22 percent or above, including--
(A) the workforce participation and employment
rates;
(B) the percentage of children living in poverty,
including counties or school districts with persistent
child poverty;
(C) an estimate of both the percentage and number
of individuals who are self employed;
(D) the average reading and mathematics proficiency
for elementary school, from third grade and thereafter,
and secondary school students;
(E) rates of secondary and post-secondary
completion for those experiencing poverty;
(F) the number and percentage of individuals
participating in means-tested benefits programs;
(G) an inventory and analysis of all Federal
programs and their evidence base aimed at reducing
child poverty or any of its casual variables;
(H) a summary of existing studies that have used
scientifically based research methods to evaluate the
effectiveness of Federal programs and recommendations
for ensuring the studies are made publicly available
online in a user-friendly format; and
(I) a plan for legislative, executive, or other
actions, to reduce child poverty rates, with a specific
focus on jurisdictions with above average child poverty
rates, and address any issues identified as a result of
the initial report through--
(i) increasing enrollment or expansion of
Federal programs that have shown to be
effective in States with higher than average
child poverty rates;
(ii) building scholarly literature and
evidence, including tiered-evidence approaches,
to generate Federal strategies and new funding
opportunities for States with higher than
average child poverty rates;
(iii) encouraging the use of flexibility
waiver pilot programs to blend funding and
coordinate programming, when appropriate, which
would grant priorities for States with higher
than average child poverty levels;
(iv) providing tax incentives for job
creation; and
(v) creating economic incentives by--
(I) exploring the impact of earned
income tax credits;
(II) reducing tax burden for
families of children living in poverty;
and
(III) providing tax incentives for
nonprofit and private sector agents to
reduce family and child poverty rates;
(2) recommendations for States to engage with local
governments, nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, and
child poverty experts; and
(3) a plan for the creation of an accountability mechanism
to ensure that child poverty rates are monitored and States
held accountable for progress.
(b) Subsequent Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Task Force shall
submit to the President and the Congress, make publicly available, and
disseminate a report detailing--
(1) the strategies developed to address deficiencies noted
by the report under subsection (a);
(2) in the case of reports subsequent to the first report
of this subsection, a description of the accomplishments of the
task force since the preceding report;
(3) national priorities for addressing child poverty,
economic growth, and family stability in the United States;
(4) updates on Federal research findings and research needs
regarding child and family economic security and stability for
economic growth;
(5) information submitted to the Task Force by Federal
departments and agencies for inclusion in the report;
(6) information submitted by stakeholders for inclusion in
the report; and
(7) progress on strategies in the previous report in States
with above average child poverty rates in the original report,
which will include--
(A) updated child poverty rates, including the
nominal and percentage value changes from the original
report;
(B) workforce participation rates among families
with children, and among youth;
(C) secondary and post-secondary education
enrollment and completion rates; and
(D) any other outcome indicators, along with
necessary benchmarks, that the Task Force deems as
important variables in measuring progress towards the
eradication of child poverty.
SEC. 8. REQUIRED RECORDS AND PUBLIC NOTICES.
(a) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet not less than 3
times in the first year after the establishment of the Task
Force, and not less than twice per year thereafter.
(2) Field hearings.--The Task Force, in addition, shall
conduct at least one hearing in any one of the States that meet
the poverty rate percentage established in section 4(c)(2).
(3) Notice.--The Task Force shall--
(A) publish in the Federal Register timely notice
of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force; and
(B) provide for other types of public notice to
ensure that all interested persons receive timely
notice of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force.
(4) Minutes.--
(A) In general.--The Task Force shall record and
maintain detailed minutes of each meeting of the Task
Force, including--
(i) the meeting agenda;
(ii) a record of the persons present;
(iii) a complete and accurate description
of matters discussed at the meeting and
conclusions reached; and
(iv) copies of all reports received,
issued, or approved by the Task Force in
connection with the meeting.
(B) Public availability; copying.--The Task Force
shall make such minutes available for public inspection
and copying.
(C) Accuracy.--The co-chairs of the Task Force
shall certify the accuracy of all such minutes.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so appropriated shall
remain available until expended.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF TASK FORCE.
The Task Force shall terminate no later than 4 years after
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 11. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Child living in poverty.--The term ``child living in
poverty'' means an individual--
(A) who is under the age of 18;
(B) who lives in a State where the average poverty
rate is higher than the national average of 21 percent;
and
(C) whose family has an income at or below the
poverty line.
(2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``poverty
line'', ``secondary school'', and ``institution of higher
education'' have the meanings given the terms in section 8101
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(4) Means-tested federal benefit program.--The term
``means-tested Federal benefit program'' means a mandatory
spending program of the Federal Government, in which
eligibility for the program's benefits, or the amount of such
benefits, are determined on the basis of income or resources of
the individual or family seeking the benefit, and includes--
(A) the supplemental security income program under
title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et
seq.);
(B) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011
et seq.);
(C) the free and reduced price school lunch program
established under the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the
summer food service program for children under section
13 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1761);
(D) the program of block grants for States for
temporary assistance for needy families established
under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
(E) the special supplemental nutrition program for
women, infants, and children established by section 17
of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
(F) the Medicaid program;
(G) the earned income credit allowed under section
32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
(H) the refundable portion of the child tax credit
allowed under section 24(d) of such Code; and
(I) payments received under section 8 of the United
States Housing Act of 1937.
(5) Scientifically based research methods.--The term
``scientifically based research methods'' means--
(A) research that applies rigorous, systematic, and
objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant
to child poverty; and
(B) includes research that--
(i) employs systemic, empirical methods
that draw on observation or experiment;
(ii) involves rigorous data analyses that
are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and
justify the general conclusions drawn;
(iii) relies on measurements or
observational methods that provide valid data
across evaluators and observers and across
multiple measurements and observations; and
(iv) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed
journal or approved by a panel of independent
experts through a comparably rigorous,
objective, and scientific review.
(6) Tiered-evidence approaches.--The term ``tiered-evidence
approaches'' include research or activities, including grant
classification, where such research, activities or grants are
awarded to programs according to their level of evidence of
effectiveness.
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means the several States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
(8) Repurpose.--The term ``repurpose'' means shifting
funding from low-performing or low-use programs, policies, or
practices to high impact programs, policies, or practices.
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