PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 9, 2015
Preparing More Welfare Recipients for Work Act
This bill amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act with respect to mandatory work requirements to:
eliminate the requirement that recipients participate in certain core work activities not fewer than 20 hours per week, as well as separate requirements for two-parent families;
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
allow states to receive partial credit for certain families participating for less than the minimum hours required for purposes of calculating the monthly participation rate;
give states the option to apply an alternative work participation rate calculation;
revise requirements for counting job search as work;
modify the rule deeming an individual to meet work participation requirements by attending secondary school;
require a state to meet individuals participating for three months in job readiness assistance and certify whether continued participation is necessary to prepare them for employment;
replace with job readiness assistance as a separate work activity the currently recognized work activity of providing child care services to a participant in a community service program; and
increase from 12 to 24 months the maximum period that vocational educational training counts as a work activity.
People & committees
Rep. Renacci, James B. [R-OH-16] · R–OH
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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 Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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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Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.2991 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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