PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.781 / 104th Congress

Welfare Innovation and Empowerment Act of 1995

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 1, 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: State and Local Welfare-To-Work Demonstration Projects Title II: Expansion of State Authority Title III: Individual Development Accounts Title IV: Other Asset Reforms Welfare Innovation and Empowerment Act of 1995 - Title I: State and Local Welfare-To-Work Demonstration Projects - Establishes an Interagency Waiver Request Board for expediting Federal approval of State demonstration projects for getting welfare recipients off welfare and to work through such Federal programs as the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and food stamp program as modified by the State to incorporate such measures as time-limited benefits for moving recipients towards economic self-sufficiency. Requires: (1) the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on such projects; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make specified payments to States for each project participant in the State who gets off AFDC or SSI and obtains unsubsidized private employment. Title II: Expansion of State Authority - Amends part A (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for expanded State authority with regard to: (1) contracting for case management and job training services; (2) benefit determinations for children conceived by AFDC recipients; and (3) treatment of families based on the number of parents in the home. Title III: Individual Development Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for individual development accounts (IDAs), that are generally tax-exempt, for low-income individuals to use for keeping their savings and other contributions up to a certain limit for educational, first-home purchase, and other specified purposes. Title IV: Other Asset Reforms - Amends SSA title IV to make various specified changes with regard to asset (including automobile equity) limits and dependent child income, resource, and IDA disregards. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude certain income from consideration for purposes of public housing rent determinations. Provides that amounts in IDAs shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for and amount of benefits under Federal welfare programs.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Weldon, Curt [R-PA-7] · R–PA

Committees

  • Ways and Means Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Education and Workforce Committee
  • Agriculture Committee
  • Financial Services Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning.

  5. Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.

  6. Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.

  7. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  8. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  9. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  10. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  11. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  12. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Economic and Educational Opportunities, Banking and Financial Services, and Commerce, 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.

  13. Introduced in House

  14. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.781 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.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.781 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.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.781 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.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.781 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.

View full prompt & sources