TANF Program Extended For Six Months

IMMIGRANTS & PUBLIC BENEFITS

TANF Reauthorization

TANF program extended for six months
November 20003

Congress has enacted a six-month extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which had been set to expire on Sept. 30, 2003. This latest extension-the fifth since the program's initial, statutory expiration date-is scheduled to expire at the end of March 2004.

The House of Representatives passed its TANF reauthorization proposal this past February. The Senate Finance Committee passed a TANF reauthorization bill on Oct. 3, 2003, and the Senate leadership has suggested that they will bring TANF reauthorization up for consideration by the full Senate in February 2004.

Neither the House nor the Senate versions of TANF reauthorization provide for restoring health or TANF benefits to immigrants who are lawfully present in the U.S. Congressional supporters of restoring the benefits, including Sens. Bob Graham (D-FL) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), have indicated that they plan to offer amendments restoring them when the entire Senate considers the bill next year.