To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from restricting funding for pregnancy centers.
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act
This bill prohibits the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing (with respect to certain pregnancy centers) a provision of a proposed rule modifying the standard for a state's reasonable use of funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The proposed rule provides that if ACF identifies a TANF expenditure that does not appear to reasonably accomplish a purpose of TANF then the state must show that it used the funds in a manner that a reasonable person would consider to be within one of the purposes.
The bill prohibits ACF from applying this standard to state expenditures for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers, and families, including but relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes, or material supports.
Under current law, TANF funds may be used for any of four purposes, including to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies. In the supplemental information to the proposed rule, ACF states that TANF expenditures for programs that exclusively or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant have a tenuous or nonexistent connection to this purpose and, therefore, likely do not meet the proposed reasonableness standard.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 18.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-349.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 285.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H155)
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 969 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918 and H. Res. 957. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918, and H. Res. 957 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 6914 and H.R. 6918.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 969. (consideration: CR H201-210)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918 and H. Res. 957. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 6914, H.R. 6918, and H. Res. 957 under a closed rule, with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 6914 and H.R. 6918.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6918.
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The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Ms. Davids (KS) moved to recommit to the Committee on Ways and Means. (text: CR H210)
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 6918, the chair put the question on the motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (MO) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H226-227)
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 214 (Roll no. 16).
Roll Call #16 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)
Roll Call #17 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 17). (text: CR H201-202)
Roll Call #17 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.