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Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S264-278)

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 24, 2005

Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005 - 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 requirements for: (1) the consideration of certain child care expenditures in determining State compliance with contingency fund requirements; (2) State work participation standards (including minimum participation rate floors), incorporating a 40-hour work week standard, and creating a State superachiever participation rate credit; and (3) the use of TANF grants.

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Replaces personal responsibility plans with family self-sufficiency plans.

Authorizes the Secretary to establish TANF performance goals and plans. Makes appropriations for research, demonstrations, and technical assistance.

Promotion and Support of Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Act of 2005 - 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 2005 - 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.

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Who introduced it

Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO] · R–MO

Committees

  • Finance Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S264-278)

  2. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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