Weber Times

WASHINGTON— U.S. Congressman Blake Moore (R-Utah) has presented a new legislation proposal aimed at improving work supports for individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The bill, known as the Restoring Temporary to TANF Act, mandates that states allocate 25% of federal TANF funds towards core work activities. These activities include work supports, education and training, apprenticeships, non-recurrent short-term benefits, work activities, and case management for TANF individual responsibility plans. Notably, the requirements of the TANF grant would specifically pertain to federal funds, allowing each state the flexibility to manage their state funds according to their discretion.

Congressman Blake Moore expressed his approval of Utah's current approach to federal funding allocation, stating, "Once again, Utah is a model for how we responsibly spend our federal funding allocations. Utah’s current prioritization of work supports has allowed our state to make significant investments with federal TANF dollars and empower families to find independence and thrive." Moore emphasized the positive impact of the Restoring Temporary to TANF Act, highlighting its potential to promote economic freedom, bolster the economy, and facilitate the return to work for Americans.

The TANF block grant program was originally designed to offer temporary assistance to single-parent households, foster independence through employment, job readiness, and training, and support two-parent households. However, concerns have arisen regarding the allocation of program funds, which have sometimes been distributed as direct payments without sufficient support and workforce training, hindering families from transitioning away from TANF reliance.

The introduction of the Restoring Temporary to TANF Act signifies a legislative effort to enhance the effectiveness of TANF funds and reinforce the program's original goals of promoting self-sufficiency and workforce participation.