TANF Hygiene Access Act

Summary#

This bill creates a demonstration program run by the Department of Health and Human Services (through the Office of Family Assistance). The program will give competitive grants to States, Indian tribes, or tribal organizations to test ways to help low-income households get hygiene materials. "Hygiene materials" is defined to include items such as soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, diapers, baby wipes, postpartum pads, hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, and other products the Secretary approves.

Applicants must compete for grants. The Secretary will choose grantees based on factors in the bill, including the project design, capacity to serve the targeted population, partnerships with basic needs banks or similar groups, readiness to evaluate the project, cost-effectiveness, past performance under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, and geographic diversity. The Secretary must post each application on the HHS website when received. Grants must be disbursed on the first day of the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded. Grantees may use no more than 15 percent of grant funds for administrative expenses and may use grant funds only to provide hygiene materials.

Grantees must report to the Secretary on performance using four indicators: geographic area served, number of families served, number of materials distributed, and frequency of distributions. The bill authorizes funding for five fiscal years and requires the Secretary to report to Congress before the fifth fiscal year on whether large-scale implementation would be feasible. The Act would take effect one year after enactment.

What it means for you#

  • If you are a State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization: you may apply for a competitive grant to run a hygiene-materials distribution initiative and must meet the selection factors in the bill.
  • If you work at or run a basic needs bank or similar group: the bill encourages partnerships with applicants who have experience collecting, warehousing, and distributing hygiene items.
  • If you are a low-income household: this program funds projects that provide hygiene supplies; whether you receive supplies depends on whether a local or tribal applicant is awarded a grant and runs a distribution initiative.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes appropriations from the Treasury of:
    • $25,000,000 for the first fiscal year after the act takes effect;
    • $30,000,000 for each of the second and third fiscal years;
    • $32,500,000 for each of the fourth and fifth fiscal years.
  • Grants are disbursed on the first day of the fiscal year for which they are awarded. No more than 15 percent of each grant may be used for administrative expenses.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.