Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 28, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Individual Development Accounts for Low-Income Workers Title II: Individual Development Account Investment Credits Savings for Working Families Act - States that the purposes of this Act are to provide for the establishment of individual development accounts (IDAs) projects for the following stated objectives: (1) providing individuals and families with limited means an opportunity to accumulate assets and to enter the financial mainstream; (2) promoting education, homeownership, and small business development; and (3) stabilizing families and building communities. Title I: Individual Development Accounts For Low-Income Workers - Sets forth requirements for IDAs for low-income workers, including the following: (1) the basic structure and administration of IDA programs established by qualified financial institutions (QFIs) either alone or in partnership with community-based, nonprofit organizations; (2) procedures for opening an IDA with a QFI and contributing money (of up to a certain amount, except in the case of qualified rollovers) in accordance with specified guidelines to qualify for matching funds from QFIs, State, local, or private sources to be held in either one of two special separate described accounts; (3) QFI deposits of all matching funds (matched dollar-for-dollar for the first $300 contributed by an eligible individual to an IDA for any taxable year) for each IDA in one such an account which is interest-bearing; (4) withdrawal procedures for IDA holders who have completed a QFI economic literacy course to obtain matching funds to pay for qualified expenses upon obtaining appropriate permission; (5) certification to the Secretary of the Treasury that IDAs and other described accounts are operating pursuant to this Act, and termination of IDA programs if the Secretary determines that a QFI is not operating an IDA program in accordance with this Act; and (6) reporting and evaluation requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Individual Development Account Investment Credits - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for a QFI's IDA investment during the taxable year, including the aggregate amount of dollar-for-dollar matches under the IDA program, plus the lesser of $100 times the number of IDA accounts maintained by the QFI, or a specified portion of certain costs of providing economic literacy training to IDA holders and underwriting the activities of collaborating community-based, not-for-profit organizations. (Sec. 202) Declares that QFIs which establish IDA programs shall receive credit for funding, administration, and education expenses under the services test contained in regulations for the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 for those activities related to IDAs. (Sec. 203) Authorizes an individual to designate that a specified portion (not less than $1) of any overpayment of tax for a taxable year which is attributable to the earned income credit shall be deposited by the Secretary into the individual's IDA.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Feb 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
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 S.895 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 S.895 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 S.895 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 S.895 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.