H.R. 9149

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9149 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9149

To eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-
tested public assistance programs, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 25, 2024

Mr. Gomez (for himself, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Norton, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, 
Mr. Khanna, Ms. Schrier, Mr. Smith of Washington, and Mr. Carbajal) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, 
Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To eliminate asset limits employed by certain federally funded means-
tested public assistance programs, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Allowing Steady 
Savings by Eliminating Tests Act'' or the ``ASSET Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. States prohibited from imposing asset limits on programs funded 
by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
(TANF) grants.
Sec. 4. Eliminating asset limits in the supplemental nutrition 
assistance program (SNAP).
Sec. 5. Eliminating asset limit in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program (LIHEAP).
Sec. 6. Updating and indexing the resource limit for supplemental 
security income (SSI).
Sec. 7. Effective date.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) Many means-tested public assistance programs limit 
eligibility for benefits on the basis of the assets of a 
family, such as savings and other resources. Such asset limits 
impede the ability of needy families to improve their financial 
circumstances and thereby reduce their dependence on public 
assistance programs.
(2) Restricting eligibility for public assistance programs 
on the basis of assets negatively affects the financial 
security of low-income families. For example, to avoid losing 
eligibility for public assistance under an asset limit, a 
family may avoid mainstream financial services such as bank 
accounts, or refrain from acquiring and saving resources that 
would enable the family to weather an unanticipated expense.
(3) The risk that people who don't need public assistance 
will take advantage of public assistance programs in the 
absence of asset limits is low, in part because most applicants 
for public assistance have very few assets, must meet strict 
work requirements, and usually may only participate in a 
program for a limited time.
(4) Evidence from States that have eliminated asset limits 
suggests that the administrative cost savings associated with 
the elimination of asset limits outweigh any increases in 
payments made to beneficiaries.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that certain 
federally funded means-tested public assistance programs should not 
utilize asset limits to restrict eligibility for assistance under those 
programs.

SEC. 3. STATES PROHIBITED FROM IMPOSING ASSET LIMITS ON PROGRAMS FUNDED 
BY TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) GRANTS.

(a) No State Limitation on Allowable Financial Resources.--Section 
408(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(13) No asset or resource limit.--A State to which a 
grant is made under section 403 shall not apply any asset or 
resource limit for eligibility of a family for any benefit, 
assistance, or service provided under the State program funded 
under this part.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 408(f) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 608(f)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``or 
resources''; and
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``and 
resources'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as 
subparagraph (B); and
(D) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by 
striking ``and resources'' each place it appears.
(c) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State to which a grant is 
made under section 403 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
603) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines 
requires State legislation (other than legislation 
appropriating funds) to meet the requirements of paragraph (13) 
of section 408(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)), such State 
shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the 
requirements of such paragraph before the first day of the 
first calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first 
regular session of the State legislature that begins after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) 2-year legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph 
(1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative 
session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a 
separate regular session of the State legislature.

SEC. 4. ELIMINATING ASSET LIMITS IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP).

(a) In General.--
(1) Eligible households.--Section 5 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), in the first sentence, by 
striking ``and other financial resources'';
(B) by striking subsections (g) and (j);
(C) by redesignating subsections (h), (i), (k), 
(l), (m), and (n) as subsections (g), (h), (i), (j), 
(k), and (l), respectively; and
(D) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and 
resources'' each place it appears; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) by striking subparagraph (B); 
and
(II) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(C) through (E) as subparagraphs (B) 
through (D), respectively.
(2) Eligibility disqualifications.--Section 6 of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (h); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (i) through (s) as 
subsections (h) through (r), respectively.
(3) Research, demonstration, and evaluations.--Section 17 
of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2026) is 
amended--
(A) by striking subsections (h) and (i); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (j) through (n) as 
subsections (h) through (l), respectively.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2014) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by 
striking ``and (r)'' and inserting ``and (q)''; and
(B) in subsection (d)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking 
``subsection (k)'' and inserting ``subsection 
(i)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (10), by striking 
``subsection (k) of this section'' and 
inserting ``subsection (i)''.
(2) Section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2015) is amended--
(A) in subsection (d)(4), by striking ``subsection 
(o)'' each place it appears and inserting ``subsection 
(n)'';
(B) in subsection (f), in the third sentence, by 
striking ``and financial resources'';
(C) in subsection (q) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (1)(B), by striking 
``subsection (k)'' and inserting ``subsection (j)''; 
and
(D) in subsection (r) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(2)(B)), in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``allowable financial 
resources and''; and
(ii) by striking ``(g), (i), (k), (l), (m), 
and (n)'' and inserting ``(h), (i), (j), (k), 
and (l)''.
(3) Section 7(i)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2016(i)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 6(o)(2) 
of this Act'' and inserting ``section 6(n)(2)''.
(4) Section 11(e)(22) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(22)) is amended by striking ``section 6(i)'' 
and inserting ``section 6(h)''.
(5) Section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2025) is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(9), by striking ``section 
17(n)'' and inserting ``section 17(l)''; and
(B) in subsection (h)--
(i) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by 
striking ``section 6(o)'' and inserting 
``section 6(n)'';
(II) in subparagraph (E)--
(aa) by striking ``section 
6(o)(3)'' each place it appears 
and inserting ``section 
6(n)(3)'';
(bb) by striking ``section 
6(o)(2)'' each place it appears 
and inserting ``section 
6(n)(2)''; and
(cc) in clause (ii)--

(AA) in subclause 
(III), by striking 
``section 6(o)(4)'' and 
inserting ``section 
6(n)(4)''; and

(BB) in subclause 
(IV), by striking 
``section 6(o)(6)'' and 
inserting ``section 
6(n)(6)''; and

(III) in subparagraph 
(F)(ii)(III)(ee)(AA), by striking 
``section 6(o)'' and inserting 
``section 6(n)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (5)(C)(iv)(I), by 
striking ``section 6(o)(2)'' and inserting 
``section 6(n)(2)''.
(6) Section 17 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 
U.S.C. 2026) is amended--
(A) in subsection (k) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(3)(B))--
(i) by striking ``subsections (l) through 
(n)'' each place it appears and inserting 
``subsections (k) through (m)''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking 
``section 6(l)(2)'' and inserting ``section 
6(k)(2)''; and
(B) in subsection (l) (as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(3)(B)), in paragraph (4)(A)(i)(II), by 
striking ``and financial resources (as described in 
section 5(g))''.
(7) Section 18(g)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2027(g)(2)) is amended by striking ``section 5(h)'' 
and inserting ``section 5(g)''.
(8) Section 103(a)(2)(D) of the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3113(a)(2)(D)) is amended by 
striking ``section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2015(o))'' and inserting ``section 6(n) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n))''.
(9) Section 121(b)(2)(B)(iv) of the Workforce Innovation 
and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3151(b)(2)(B)(iv)) is amended by 
striking ``section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 
(7 U.S.C. 2015(o))'' and inserting ``section 6(n) of the Food 
and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(n))''.
(10) Section 454 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 654) 
is amended--
(A) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking ``section 
6(l)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(l)(1))'' and inserting ``section 6(k)(1) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(1))'';
(B) in paragraph (6)(B)(i), by striking 
``subsection (l) or (m) of section 6 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008'' and inserting ``subsection (k) 
or (l) of section 6 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015)''; and
(C) in paragraph (29)(A)(ii), by striking ``section 
6(l)(2) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2015(l)(2))'' and inserting ``section 6(k)(2) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(k)(2))''.
(c) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State plan under section 
11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020) that 
the Secretary of Agriculture determines requires State 
legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in 
order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed 
by the amendments made by this section, the State plan shall 
not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of 
section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 
2020) solely on the basis of the failure of the plan to meet 
those additional requirements before the first day of the first 
calendar quarter that begins after the close of the first 
regular session of the State legislature that begins after the 
date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph (1), in 
the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each 
year of the session shall be considered a separate regular 
session of the State legislature.

SEC. 5. ELIMINATING ASSET LIMIT IN LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM (LIHEAP).

(a) Elimination of Limitations on Allowable Financial Resources.--
Section 2605(b)(2) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)) is amended, in the matter following subparagraph 
(B), by inserting ``, and agrees that the State may not exclude a 
household from eligibility in a fiscal year solely or partially on the 
basis of the assets of 1 or more members of the household'' before the 
semicolon.
(b) Delay Permitted if State Legislation Required.--
(1) In general.--In the case of a State plan under section 
2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 
U.S.C. 8624) that the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
determines requires State legislation (other than legislation 
appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the 
additional requirements imposed by the amendment made by this 
section, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to 
comply with the requirements of such section 2605 solely on the 
basis of the failure of the plan to meet those additional 
requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter 
that begins after the close of the first regular session of the 
State legislature that begins after the date of enactment of 
this Act.
(2) 2-year legislative session.--For purposes of paragraph 
(1), in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative 
session, each year of the session shall be considered to be a 
separate regular session of the State legislature.

SEC. 6. UPDATING AND INDEXING THE RESOURCE LIMIT FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 
SECURITY INCOME (SSI).

(a) In General.--
(1) Update in resource limit for individuals and couples.--
Section 1611(a)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382(a)(3)) is 
amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$2,250'' and 
all that follows through the end of the subparagraph 
and inserting ``$20,000 in calendar year 2024, and 
shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for 
each subsequent calendar year.''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$1,500'' and 
all that follows through the end of the subparagraph 
and inserting ``$10,000 in calendar year 2024, and 
shall be increased as described in section 1617(d) for 
each subsequent calendar year.''.
(2) Inflation adjustment.--Section 1617 of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 1382f) is amended--
(A) in the section heading, by inserting ``; 
inflation adjustment'' after ``benefits''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) In the case of any calendar year after 2024, each of the 
amounts specified in section 1611(a)(3) shall be increased by 
multiplying each such amount by the quotient (not less than 1) obtained 
by dividing--
``(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index for Elderly 
Consumers (CPI-E, as published by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics of the Department of Labor) for the 12-month period 
ending with September of the preceding calendar year, by
``(2) such average for the 12-month period ending with 
September 2023.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect as if enacted on January 1, 2024.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Except as otherwise provided, the amendments made by this Act shall 
apply to benefits for calendar months beginning on or after the date 
that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
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