# 119-hr-8872: Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

119-hr-8872, Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] (R-OH); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8872
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8872
- Congress: 119
- Title: Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-05-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15] (R-OH)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Social Welfare
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Tighten payment integrity for TANF funds** while refocusing federal cash to low-income families under a clear income cutoff. - Families: Low-income households would only be eligible for grants if their income is less than twice the poverty guidelines. This sets a clear income test for who can receive help. - States: States would need to obligate funds by the end of the next fiscal year and spend them by the end of the second following year. They could reserve up to 15% of a fiscal year's funds for future use but total reserves could not exceed 50% of the prior year's grant, and governors must certify federal funds will not replace state spending. - Oversight and accountability: The Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 would apply to state TANF programs in the same way it applies to federal agencies. The Health and Human Services Secretary would have 1 year to send Congress a plan to reduce improper payments within 10 years.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19] (R-TX), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4] (R-FL), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] (R-OH), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3] (R-NE), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1] (R-UT), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1] (R-WV), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4] (R-IA), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger TANF oversight and anti-supplant: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would make the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 apply to State TANF programs like it applies to federal agencies. Within one year after enactment, HHS would have to send Congress a written plan to reduce or eliminate improper TANF payments within 10 years. The bill wou…
- New income cap for TANF families: cost, high. If enacted, the bill would limit TANF-funded help to families whose income is less than two times the poverty guideline for their household size. This rule would apply to grants under section 403(a)(1). The change would take effect on October 1, 2027.
- Deadlines and reserve limits for TANF funds: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would require States to obligate TANF funds by the end of the next fiscal year and to spend them by the end of the second following fiscal year. States could hold back up to 15% of a year's funds for future use, but total reserves could not exceed 50% of the prior year's TANF p…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1: One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- 119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-591: Defending American Jobs and Investment Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-1156: Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8872 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8872)

## Related
- [119-hr-1: One Big Beautiful Bill Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1)
- [119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-137)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-591: Defending American Jobs and Investment Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-591)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-1156: Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1156)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8872 (as of 2026-09-21).