OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Tanf Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 3, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. TENNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to support passage of H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, as it is known, was created to help families in poverty meet urgent needs while supporting work and long-term self-sufficiency.

Unfortunately, Federal TANF funds have become too easy for State governments to use as slush funds for unrelated programs, as you heard my great colleague, Mr. Bean, describe. Some States--he left them unnamed--are using it to build sports stadiums instead of focusing this money on families who are truly in need of assistance.

This is why I am leading this bill with my colleague from Florida, Mr. Aaron Bean, the Protect TANF Resources for Families Act, which is included in this bill package.

This bill says something very simple: Federal TANF funds can only be used to support families in poverty, and they cannot be used to fill State budget gaps.

This bill does not take away State flexibility. States will continue to have flexibility to operate their TANF programs in ways that work for individual communities, but flexibility requires responsibility.

Federal dollars provided for needy families should remain focused on needy families. Struggling families should be able to trust that TANF resources are being preserved for them. Taxpayers have the right to ensure that their money isn't being diverted through unfair State budget maneuvers.

This bill is an important step toward restoring accountability, protecting limited resources, and making sure TANF serves the families who truly need our help.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Jason Smith, subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood, and my colleague who cosponsors this bill, Aaron Bean from Florida, for marking up this important bill. I also thank our Speaker, Leader Scalise, and Whip Tom Emmer for bringing this bill to the floor.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help us end waste, fraud, and abuse, and to provide accountability to our taxpayers.

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