,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bdaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #a1 #bjai,ms4 ,ernst 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,braun1 ,mr4 ,perdue1 and ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to provide ,states with the option of applying for and receiving temporary waivers for the ,states to experiment with new approaches that integrate ,federal programs in order to provide more coordinated and holistic solutions to families in need1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,economic ,mobility1 ,prosperity1 and ,opportunity with ,waivers that ,enable ,reforms for ,states ,act of #bjai or the ,,empowers ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 each ,state is in the best position to determine-- 7,a7 the specific needs of the population of the ,state2 and 7,b7 how those needs should be addressed2 and 7#b7 the purpose of expanding the use of ,state waivers in ,federal antipoverty programs-- 7,a7 is not to cut the aggregate amount of ,federal antipoverty spending2 but 7,b7 is to allow ,states the flexibility to improve the effectiveness of that spending4 #c4 ,temporary waivers for ,federal antipoverty programs 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,interagency ,board for ,empowering ,low-,income ,families established by subsection 7b77#a74 7#b7 ,covered program ,the term covered program means-- 7,a7 in the case of nutrition programs-- 7i7 the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 7ii7 the special supplemental nutrition program for women1 infants1 and children established by section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf72 7iii7 the commodity supplemental food program established under section #e of the ,agriculture and ,consumer ,protection ,act of #aigc 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #fab;c note2 ,public ,law #ic-hf72 7iv7 the ,senior ,farmers' ,market ,nutrition ,program of the ,department of ,agriculture2 7v7 the emergency food assistance program established under the ,emergency ,food ,assistance ,act of #aihc 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #geja et seq472 7vi7 the congregate nutrition services program carried out under subpart #a of part ,c of title ,,iii of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcj;e72 7vii7 the home delivered nutrition services program carried out under subpart #b of part ,c of title ,,iii of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcj;f et seq472 and 7viii7 the nutrition services incentives program carried out under section #caa of the ,older ,americans ,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcj;a72 7,b7 in the case of housing programs-- 7i7 the tenant-based rental assistance program under section #h of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f72 7ii7 the project-based rental assistance program under section #h of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f72 7iii7 assistance to public housing agencies from the ,capital ,fund and ,operating ,fund established under subsections 7d7 and 7e71 respectively1 of section #i of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;g72 7iv7 the single family rural housing loan program under section #ejb of the ,housing ,act of #aidi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adgb72 7v7 the rural rental assistance program under section #eba of the ,housing ,act of #aidi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adij;a72 7vi7 the community development block grant program under title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq472 7vii7 the ,home ,investment ,partnerships ,program under title ,,ii of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abgba et seq472 and 7viii7 the neighborhood stabilization program under title ,,iii of division ,b of the ,housing and ,economic ,recovery ,act of #bjjh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja note72 7,c7 the temporary assistance for needy families program established under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq472 7,d7 the child and family services programs carried out under subparts #a and #b of part ,b of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq472 7,e7 the program to provide ,federal payments for foster care and adoption assistance under part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgj et seq471 including the ,john ,h4 ,chafee ,foster ,care ,independence ,program established under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg72 7,f7 the block grant to ,states for social services established under subtitle ,a of title ,,xx of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acig et seq472 7,g7 the community services block grant program carried out under the ,community ,services ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iija et seq472 7,h7 the ,weatherization ,assistance ,program for ,low-,income ,persons established under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfa et seq472 7,i7 the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,program carried out under the ,low-,income ,home ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et seq472 7,j7 programs carried out under the ,child ,care and ,development ,block ,grant ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iheh et seq472 and 7,k7 programs carried out under the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #caja et seq474 7#c7 ,governor ,the term ,governor means the ,governor or chief executive of a ,state4 7#d7 ,participating ,state ,the term participating ,state means any of the ,states that apply for and receive approval to carry out a project4 7#e7 ,project ,the term project means a project described in subsection 7c74 7#f7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 a territory1 or a possession that is eligible to participate in the applicable covered program4 7b7 ,interagency ,board for ,empowering ,low-,income ,families 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established an interagency board1 to be known as the ,interagency ,board for ,empowering ,low-,income ,families1 which shall carry out this section4 7#b7 ,membership ,the ,board shall be composed of the following individuals3 7,a7 ,a ,chairperson1 who shall be appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,the following agency heads 7or a designee of any of the agency heads73 7i7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 7ii7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7iii7 ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7iv7 ,the ,secretary of ,labor4 7v7 ,the ,attorney ,general4 7vi7 ,the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget4 7c7 ,temporary waivers for covered programs 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,governor may apply to the ,board for the ,state to carry out a project for a #d-year waiver to consolidate1 replace1 or alter eligibility requirements for two or more covered programs4 7#b7 ,provisions excluded from waiver authority ,a waiver shall not be granted under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 with respect to any provision of law relating to-- 7i7 civil rights or the prohibition of discrimination2 7ii7 the purposes or goals of any covered program2 7iii7 maintenance of effort requirements2 7iv7 health or safety2 7v7 labor standards under the ,fair ,labor ,standards ,act of #aich 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bja et seq472 or 7vi7 environmental protection2 7,b7 in the case of a covered program described in clauses 7i7 through 7iii7 of subsection 7a77#b77;,b71 with respect to any requirement under section #e;,a of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;c-#a72 7,c7 in the case of the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq471 with respect to any requirement under-- 7i7 section #f 7if waiving a requirement under that section would have the effect of expanding eligibility for the program71 #g7;b71 or #af7;c7 of that ,act 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjae1 #bjaf7;b71 #bjbe7;c772 or 7ii7 title ,,iv of the ,personal ,responsibility and ,work ,opportunity ,reconciliation ,act of #aiif 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq472 7,d7 with respect to-- 7i7 any requirement that a ,state pass through to a sub-,state entity part or all of an amount paid to the ,state2 7ii7 the work requirements under section #djg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fjg72 7iii7 section #bda7;a7 of the ,adult ,education and ,family ,literacy ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ccca7;a772 or 7iv7 section #ahi7;i77#c77;,a77i7 of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cbdi7;i77#c77;,a77i772 7,e7 if the waiver would-- 7i7 waive any funding restriction or limitation provided in an appropriations ,act2 or 7ii7 have the effect of transferring appropriated funds from one appropriations account to another appropriations account2 or 7,f7 except as otherwise provided by statute1 if the waiver would-- 7i7 waive any funding restriction applicable to a program authorized under an ,act that is not an appropriations ,act 7but not including program requirements1 such as application procedures1 performance standards1 reporting requirements1 or eligibility standards72 or 7ii7 have the effect of transferring funds from a program for which there is direct spending 7as defined in section #bej7;c7 of the ,balanced ,budget and ,emergency ,deficit ,control ,act of #aihe 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #ijj7;c777 to another program4 7d7 ,application requirements ,to obtain a waiver for two or more covered programs under a project1 a ,governor shall submit to the ,board an application that describes-- 7#a7 the programs and requirements of the covered programs under the project2 7#b7 the goals of the project2 7#c7 each change the ,state intends to make under the project1 including the manner in which the change will-- 7,a7 promote1 with respect to program participants-- 7i7 employment2 7ii7 savings and financial literacy2 and 7iii7 family stability2 7,b7 reduce the dependence of program participants on government assistance2 and 7,c7 reduce poverty2 7#d7 the manner in which-- 7,a7 program participants will be served under the project1 including eligibility criteria2 7,b7 program benefits will be reduced under the project as the income of program participants is modified2 7,c7 funds will be used under the project1 including an assurance that all program funds will be used to assist program participants1 subject to subsection 7h77#b72 7,d7 the ,state will evaluate the project by contracting with an independent1 third-party evaluator1 including a description of-- 7i7 the methodology that will be used to evaluate the project2 7ii7 the impacts and outcomes that will be measured1 and how those impacts and outcomes relate to the goals of the project described under paragraph 7#b72 and 7iii7 the data that the ,state will collect and provide to the evaluator that describes program participants and control group members1 including-- 7,i7 demographic characteristics2 7,,ii7 financial well-being2 7,,iii7 history of receipt of government benefits2 and 7,,iv7 if a program seeks to increase the employment or employability of participants1 any barriers to employment or work expenses2 7,e7 the project will be deficit neutral2 and 7,f7 the ,state will use any potential cost savings on assistance to meet the needs of program participants1 subject to subsection 7h77#b72 and 7#e7 in the case of a waiver for a covered program described in subsection 7a77#b77;,b71 an assurance that public housing agencies received an opportunity to provide input in the preparation of the application4 7e7 ,evaluating and approving applications 7#a7 ,in general ,a waiver to carry out a project for a covered program under this section shall be authorized only if the ,board approves the application for the project submitted under subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,public comment ,the ,board shall receive comments from the public1 including stakeholders in the ,state1 for a #cj-;day period beginning on the date of receipt of an application submitted by a ,governor4 7#c7 ,decision deadline ,the ,board shall make a decision on an application submitted by a ,governor not later than #ij days after the date of receipt of the application4 7#d7 ,disapproval ,if the ,board disapproves the application of a ,governor-- 7,a7 the ,board shall provide the ,governor with a detailed explanation of the decision2 7,b7 the ,governor may submit a modified application to the ,board for approval2 and 7,c7 if a modified application is submitted1 the ,board shall make a decision not later than #cj days after the date of receipt of the modified application4 7#e7 ,evaluating applications ,in evaluating an application to carry out a project1 the ,board shall-- 7,a7 evaluate the application on the basis of the whether the project-- 7i7 promotes1 with respect to program participants-- 7,i7 employment2 7,,ii7 savings and financial literacy2 and 7,,iii7 family stability2 7ii7 reduces the dependence of program participants on government assistance2 and 7iii7 reduces poverty2 7,b7 ensure that the project does not have phase-out rates that result in a net loss in the income of a program participant when the program participant increases wages or hours worked2 7,c7 define the value of #a4jj in benefits as equal to #a4jj in earnings2 and 7,d7 consider the extent to which the methodology of the project evaluation and data collection under subsection 7d77#d77;,d7 will-- 7i7 produce rigorous results1 using experimental designs that use-- 7,i7 random assignment2 or 7,,ii7 if random assignment is not feasible1 another reliable1 evidence-based research methodology that allows for the strongest practicable causal inference2 and 7ii7 provide sufficient contextual information on the characteristics of the population served by the project1 including demographic and geographic information1 to assess the applicability of the project in other settings4 7#f7 ,notification ,not later than #cj days after the date of approval of an application to carry out a project1 the ,board shall notify the congressional committees of jurisdiction of the approval4 7f7 ,coordination of data and information ,each head of an agency that administers a covered program shall cooperate with each participating ,state that obtains a waiver of eligibility requirements for the covered program to coordinate access to data and other information relating to the covered program4 7g7 ,modifying or terminating projects 7#a7 ,in general ,a participating ,state may submit a request to the ,board to modify or terminate a project if the participating ,state determines that-- 7,a7 the project is not meeting the goals of the project2 or 7,b7 the economic situation in the participating ,state makes the project no longer viable to meet the needs of program participants4 7#b7 ,approval ,the ,board may modify or terminate a project if the ,board determines that-- 7,a7 the project is not meeting the goals of the project2 or 7,b7 the economic situation in the participating ,state makes the project no longer viable to meet the needs of program participants4 7h7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,board shall ensure that-- 7,a7 the level of funding for each participating ,state and the program participants of the participating ,states receive for each program year for the covered programs that are subject to a project2 equals 7,b7 the level of funding the participating ,state and program participants of the participating ,state would receive for the program year for the covered programs but for obtaining a waiver to carry out the project4 7#b7 ,cap on ,federal funding 7,a7 ,in general ,with respect to any year in which a participating ,state obtains a waiver of eligibility requirements for a covered program described in subparagraph 7,b71 the total amount that the head of the agency that administers the covered program shall pay to the participating ,state under the covered program shall not exceed an amount that is equal to the amount that the head of the agency paid to the participating ,state under the covered program for the previous year1 as adjusted to reflect changes in the ,consumer ,price ,index published by the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the ,department of ,labor4 7,b7 ,covered program described ,a covered program referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 is a covered program under which the amount that the ,federal ,government provides to a ,state is dependent on the amount that the ,state provides to the covered program4 7#c7 ,administrative expenses ,a participating ,state may use amounts received through a covered program for administrative expenses of carrying out the project in accordance with any requirements of the covered program for the use of amounts for administrative expenses4 7i7 ,existing contracts ,in the case of a covered program described in subsection 7a77#b77;,b71 a participating ,state shall fund any contract in effect on the day before the date of commencement of the project for the term of the contract4