PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Cloture motion on the committee substitute amendment not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 47. Record Vote Number: 65. (consideration: CR S3538)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 4, 2003
Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2003 - Amends title IV (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to reauthorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to award state family assistance grants.Authorizes States to use grants for marriage promotion activities and requires the Secretary to make bonus grants to each State that has achieved formulated employment goals.Revises: (1) requirements for the consideration of certain child care expenditures in determining State compliance with contingency fund requirements; (2) State work participation requirements, incorporating a 40-hour work week standard, and creating a State superachiever participation rate credit; and (3) requirements for the use of TANF grants.Authorizes the Secretary to establish TANF performance goals and plans. Makes appropriations for research, demonstrations, and technical assistance. Repeals waiver continuation authority.Promotion and Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2003 - Amends the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary to make grants to public and nonprofit community entities for demonstration projects to test the effectiveness of various approaches to create a Fatherhood Program.Permits States the option to make TANF programs mandatory partners with one-stop employment training centers.Caring for Children Act of 2003 - Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to specify consumer education information States are required to collect and disseminate.Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to income tax benefits.Reauthorizes funding for State child care entitlement programs and revises State requirements for child support payments.Amends: (1) SSA title XI (General Provisions) to eliminate specified limitations on the Secretary's authority to approve demonstration projects and grant waivers; and (2) SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) to require the Commissioner of Social Security to review State agency blindness and disability determinations.Authorizes the administering Secretary to authorize innovative State demonstration projects involving individual programs, or integrating multiple public assistance, employment security, and other programs to support working families.Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require the Secretary to establish a program to make grants to States to provide food assistance and funds to operate employment and training programs for needy individuals.Extends abstinence education funding and reauthorizes transitional medical assistance.
People & committees
Rep. Pryce, Deborah [R-OH-15] · R–OH
Legislative record
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Cloture motion on the committee substitute amendment not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 51 - 47. Record Vote Number: 65. (consideration: CR S3538)
Senate roll call 65 · Individual votesConsidered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3529-3538, S3544-3557)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3407-3448)
Cloture motion on the committee substitute amendment presented in Senate. (consideration: CR S3359; text: CR S3359)
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3324-3345)
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S3219-3254, S3256-3278; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S3219-3254)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 305.
Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-162. Minority views filed.
Committee on Finance. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-162. Minority views filed.
Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 192 (Roll no. 30). (text: CR H499-513)
House roll call 30 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 192 (Roll no. 30).(text: CR H499-513)
House roll call 30 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 197 - 221 (Roll no. 29).
House roll call 29 · Individual votesDEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cardin motion to recommit with instructions.
Mr. Cardin moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means. (consideration: CR H550-552; text: CR H550)
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 69, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the Cardin amendment in the nature of a substitute.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 69, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the Kucinich amendment in the nature of a substitute.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with two hours of general debate on H.R. 4.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 69 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 69. (consideration: CR H471-546, H547-552)
Rule H. Res. 69 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 69 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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 Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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 Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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 Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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 Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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 Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Agriculture, and Financial Services, 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.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E188-189)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Feb 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.4 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.
Examine H.R.4 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.4 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.4 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.