Welfare-Reform Legislation Since (1996) - Tanf Reauthorization

Authorization for the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was scheduled to end on September 30, 2003. A number of bills related to reauthorization were put forward and a number of issues were debated in Congress, including changes in work requirements, funding levels, the role of education and training, and income support for those leaving the welfare rolls. In early 2004 the House of Representatives passed a reauthorization bill that would increase work requirements. The Senate Finance Committee drafted its own version of the TANF legislation, increasing both work requirements and child care funding; however, the reauthorization effort stalled during debates and never gained approval. A complete five-year reauthorization bill was still forthcoming when funding was extended through September 2004.