Number: RL33418
Title: Welfare Reauthorization in the 109th Congress: An Overview
Authors: Gene Falk, Melinda Gish, and Carmen Solomon-Fears, Domestic Social Policy Division 
Abstract: On December 20, 2006, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 was signed into law (P.L. 109-432), continuing funding for the abstinence-only education block grant (at an annual $50 million rate) and program authority for Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) through June 30, 2007. Earlier, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171, S. 1932), a budget spending reconciliation bill signed into law February 8, 2006, included a scaled-back version of welfare reform reauthorization. The act extended funding for the basic Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant through FY2010, increased the percentage of TANF families who will be required to participate in work or work activities, increased funding for child care, revised the Child Support Enforcement program, and established healthy marriage promotion grants and responsible fatherhood initiatives.
Pages: 16
Date: January 23, 2007