,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ehdh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #aa1 #bjbj,mr4 ,cox of ,california 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,schrier1 and ,mr4 ,gomez7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,ways and ,means1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,agriculture1 ,energy and ,commerce1 and ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-tested public assistance programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,allowing ,steady ,savings by ,eliminating ,tests ,act or the ,,asset ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress4,sec4 #c4 ,states prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded by ,temporary ,assistance for ,needy ,families 7,,tanf7 grants4,sec4 #d4 ,eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 7,,snap74,sec4 #e4 ,eliminating asset limit in ,low ,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,program 7,,liheap74,sec4 #f4 ,updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental security income 7,,ssi74,sec4 #g4 ,effective date4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,many means-tested public assistance programs limit eligibility for benefits on the basis of the assets of a family1 such as savings and other resources4 ,such asset limits impede the ability of needy families to improve their financial circumstances and thereby reduce their dependence on public assistance programs4 7#b7 ,restricting eligibility for public assistance programs on the basis of assets negatively affects the financial security of low-income families4 ,for example1 to avoid losing eligibility for public assistance under an asset limit1 a family may avoid mainstream financial services such as bank accounts1 or refrain from acquiring and saving resources that would enable the family to weather an unanticipated expense4 7#c7 ,the risk that people who don't need public assistance will take advantage of public assistance programs in the absence of asset limits is low1 in part because most applicants for public assistance have very few assets1 must meet strict work requirements1 and usually may only participate in a program for a limited time4 7#d7 ,evidence from ,states that have eliminated asset limits suggests that the administrative cost savings associated with the elimination of asset limits outweigh any increases in payments made to beneficiaries4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that certain federally funded means-tested public assistance programs should not utilize asset limits to restrict eligibility for assistance under those programs4 #c4 ,states prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded by ,temporary ,assistance for ,needy ,families 7,,tanf7 grants 7a7 ,no ,state limitation on allowable financial resources ,section #djh7;a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;a77 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#ac7 ,no asset or resource limit ,a ,state to which a grant is made under section #djc shall not apply any asset or resource limit for eligibility of a family for any benefit1 assistance1 or service provided under the ,state program funded under this part4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #djh7;f7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;f77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking or resources2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in the paragraph header1 by striking and resources2 7,b7 by striking subparagraph 7,b72 7,c7 by redesignating subparagraph 7,c7 as subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,d7 in subparagraph 7,b7 7as so redesignated71 by striking and resources each place it appears4 7c7 ,delay permitted if ,state legislation required 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of a ,state to which a grant is made under section #djc of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjc7 that the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services determines requires ,state legislation 7other than legislation appropriating funds7 to meet the requirements of paragraph 7#ac7 of section #djh7;a7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjh7;a771 such ,state shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such paragraph before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the ,state legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 #b-year legislative session ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 in the case of a ,state that has a #b-year legislative session1 each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the ,state legislature4 #d4 ,eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition assistance program 7,,snap7 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,eligible households ,section #e of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a71 in the first sentence1 by striking and other financial resources2 7,b7 by striking subsections 7g7 and 7j72 7,c7 by redesignating subsections 7h71 7i71 7k71 7l71 7m71 and 7n7 as subsections 7g71 7h71 7i71 7j71 7k71 and 7l71 respectively2 and 7,d7 in subsection 7h7 7as so redesignated7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and resources each place it appears2 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,i7 by striking subparagraph 7,b72 and 7,,ii7 by redesignating subparagraphs 7,c7 through 7,e7 as subparagraphs 7,b7 through 7,d71 respectively4 7#b7 ,eligibility disqualifications ,section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking subsection 7h72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subsections 7i7 through 7s7 as subsections 7h7 through 7r71 respectively4 7#c7 ,research1 demonstration1 and evaluations ,section #ag of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbf7 is amended-- 7,a7 by striking subsections 7h7 and 7i72 and 7,b7 by redesignating subsections 7j7 through 7n7 as subsections 7h7 through 7l71 respectively4 7b7 ,conforming amendments 7#a7 ,section #e of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjad7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a71 in the second sentence1 by striking and 7r7 and inserting and 7q72 and 7,b7 in subsection 7d7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking subsection 7k7 and inserting subsection 7i72 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#aj71 by striking subsection 7k7 of this section and inserting subsection 7i74 7#b7 ,section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7d77#d71 by striking subsection 7o7 each place it appears and inserting subsection 7n72 7,b7 in subsection 7f71 in the third sentence1 by striking and financial resources2 7,c7 in subsection 7q7 7as redesignated by subsection 7a77#b77;,b771 in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 by striking subsection 7k7 and inserting subsection 7j72 and 7,d7 in subsection 7r7 7as redesignated by subsection 7a77#b77;,b771 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7i7 by striking allowable financial resources and2 and 7ii7 by striking 7g71 7i71 7k71 7l71 7m71 and 7n7 and inserting 7h71 7i71 7j71 7k71 and 7l74 7#c7 ,section #g7;i77#a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaf7;i77#a77 is amended by striking section #f7o77#b7 of this ,act and inserting section #f7n77#b74 7#d7 ,section #aa7;e77#bb7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbj7;e77#bb77 is amended by striking section #f7;i7 and inserting section #f7;h74 7#e7 ,section #af of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbe7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a77#i71 by striking section #ag7n7 and inserting section #ag7l72 and 7,b7 in subsection 7h7-- 7i7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,i7 in subparagraph 7,b77ii71 by striking section #f7o7 and inserting section #f7n72 7,,ii7 in subparagraph 7,e7-- 7aa7 by striking section #f7o77#c7 each place it appears and inserting section #f7n77#c72 7bb7 by striking section #f7o77#b7 each place it appears and inserting section #f7n77#b72 and 7cc7 in clause 7ii7-- 7,,aa7 in subclause 7,,iii71 by striking section #f7o77#d7 and inserting section #f7n77#d72 and 7,,bb7 in subclause 7,,iv71 by striking section #f7o77#f7 and inserting section #f7n77#f72 and 7,,iii7 in subparagraph 7,f77ii77,,iii77ee77,,aa71 by striking section #f7o7 and inserting section #f7n72 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#e77;,c77iv77,i71 by striking section #f7o77#b7 and inserting section #f7n77#b74 7#f7 ,section #ag of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbf7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7k7 7as redesignated by subsection 7a77#c77;,b77-- 7i7 by striking subsections 7l7 through 7n7 each place it appears and inserting subsections 7k7 through 7m72 and 7ii7 in paragraph 7#b77;,e71 by striking section #f7l77#b7 and inserting section #f7k77#b72 and 7,b7 in subsection 7l7 7as redesignated by subsection 7a77#c77;,b771 in paragraph 7#d77;,a77i77,,ii71 by striking and financial resources 7as described in section #e7;g774 7#g7 ,section #ah7;g77#b7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbg7;g77#b77 is amended by striking section #e7;h7 and inserting section #e7;g74 7#h7 ,section #ajc7;a77#b77;,d7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caac7;a77#b77;,d77 is amended by striking section #f7o7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7o77 and inserting section #f7n7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7n774 7#i7 ,section #aba7;b77#b77;,b77iv7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caea7;b77#b77;,b77iv77 is amended by striking section #f7o7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7o77 and inserting section #f7n7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7n774 7#aj7 ,section #ded of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fed7 is amended-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#d77;,a77i71 by striking section #f7l77#a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7l77#a77 and inserting section #f7k77#a7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7k77#a772 7,b7 in paragraph 7#f77;,b77i71 by striking subsection 7l7 or 7m7 of section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh and inserting subsection 7k7 or 7l7 of section #f of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae72 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#bi77;,a77ii71 by striking section #f7l77#b7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7l77#b77 and inserting section #f7k77#b7 of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae7k77#b774 7c7 ,delay permitted if ,state legislation required 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of a ,state plan under section #aa of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbj7 that the ,secretary of ,agriculture determines requires ,state legislation 7other than legislation appropriating funds7 in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this section1 the ,state plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of section #aa of the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjbj7 solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the ,state legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,legislative session ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 in the case of a ,state that has a #b-year legislative session1 each year of the session shall be considered a separate regular session of the ,state legislature4 #e4 ,eliminating asset limit in ,low ,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,program 7,,liheap7 7a7 ,elimination of limitations on allowable financial resources ,section #bfje7;b77#b7 of the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfbd7;b77#b77 is amended1 in the matter following subparagraph 7,b71 by inserting 1 and agrees that a ,state may not exclude a household from eligibility in a fiscal year solely or partially on the basis of the assets of #a or more members of the household before the semicolon4 7b7 ,delay permitted if ,state legislation required 7#a7 ,in general ,in the case of a ,state plan under section #bfje of the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfbd7 that the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services determines requires ,state legislation 7other than legislation appropriating funds7 in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendment made by this section1 the ,state plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such section #bfje solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first regular session of the ,state legislature that begins after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 #b-year legislative session ,for purposes of paragraph 7#a71 in the case of a ,state that has a #b-year legislative session1 each year of the session shall be considered to be a separate regular session of the ,state legislature4 #f4 ,updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental security income 7,,ssi7 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,update in resource limit for individuals and couples ,section #afaa7;a77#c7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #achb7;a77#c77 is amended-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking #b1bej and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting #bj1jjj in calendar year #bjbj1 and shall be increased as described in section #afag7;d7 for each subsequent calendar year42 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking #a1ejj and all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and inserting #aj1jjj in calendar year #bjbj1 and shall be increased as described in section #afag7;d7 for each subsequent calendar year44 7#b7 ,inflation adjustment ,section #afag of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #achb;f7 is amended-- 7,a7 in the section heading1 by inserting 2 inflation adjustment after benefits2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,in the case of any calendar year after #bjbj1 each of the amounts specified in section #afaa7;a77#c7 shall be increased by multiplying each such amount by the quotient 7not less than #a7 obtained by dividing-- 7#a7 the average of the ,consumer ,price ,index for ,elderly ,consumers 7,,cpi-,e1 as published by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the ,department of ,labor7 for the #ab-month period ending with ,september of the preceding calendar year1 by 7#b7 such average for the #ab-month period ending with ,september #bjai4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall take effect on ,january #a1 #bjbj4 #g4 ,effective date ,except as otherwise provided1 the amendments made by this ,act shall apply to benefits for calendar months beginning on or after the date that is #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4