Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 12, 2015

Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

This bill amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require any state receiving a TANF block grant to maintain policies and practices to ensure that cash assistance disbursed through an electronic benefit transfer card or an electronic payment card shall not be used to withdraw more than $25 per day from an automated teller machine or through a cash-back procedure at a point of sale terminal.

The Department of Health and Human Services shall reduce to $0 the state family assistance grant payable to any state which, within two years after enactment of this Act, has not reported on its implementation of this cash withdrawal limit or has not implemented such a limit.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA] · R–LA

Committees

Finance Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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May 12, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
May 12, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · May 12, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.1288 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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Discuss S.1288, 114th Congress: Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1288

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-05-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1288/BILLS-114s1288is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1288 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1288 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.

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Discuss S.1288, 114th Congress: Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1288

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-05-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1288/BILLS-114s1288is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1288 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.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1288 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.

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Discuss S.1288, 114th Congress: Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1288

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-05-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1288/BILLS-114s1288is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1288 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.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1288, 114th Congress: Welfare Abuse Prevention Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1288

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-05-12.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1288/BILLS-114s1288is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:55Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1288 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.