PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 9, 2017
Welfare Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission (BRAC) Act
This bill establishes within the legislative branch the Benefit Reform and Alignment Commission to review certain means-tested welfare programs.
A "means-tested welfare program" is any federal program that is designed to specifically provide assistance or benefits exclusively to low-income Americans. The bill specifies several programs that are either considered or not considered means-tested welfare programs for the purpose of this bill.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The commission must identify changes in law to structure the programs so that:
the receipt of aid by a beneficiary is temporary, that over time there is a reduction in the number of the programs in which an individual beneficiary or household is participating, and that over time the total number of recipients receiving such aid is reduced; and
the programs increase employment, encourage healthy marriages, and further educational attainment so that households maintain an income above the poverty level without services and benefits from the federal government.
The commission must also: (1) review the programs to evaluate whether certain programs should be consolidated, eliminated, or made subject to the annual appropriations process; and (2) recommend ways to reduce the cost or increase the efficiency of the programs by contracting with private entities or delegating authority to states.
The commission may also review the offsetting receipts and discretionary appropriations of the federal government.
The commission must submit to Congress a report including recommendations and proposed legislation. Congress must consider the proposal using specified expedited legislative procedures.
People & committees
Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8] · R–OH
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, and the Judiciary, 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.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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