H.R. 6639 · 118th Congress
Poverty Line Act of 2023
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 118th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
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MullinSponsor20 cosponsors · 19 D, 1 R
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Gomez
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Garcia
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Krishnamoorthi
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Lofgren
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Lee
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Norton
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Ramirez
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Schakowsky
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Tlaib
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Thanedar
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Watson Coleman
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Cárdenas
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Schiff
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Magaziner
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Jackson Lee
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DeSaulnier
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Suozzi
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Fitzpatrick13 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill revises the methodology used to calculate the federal poverty guidelines. The federal poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for many federal and state public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the National School Lunch Program.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Dec 6, 2023
Poverty Line Act of 2023
This bill revises the methodology used to calculate the federal poverty guidelines. The federal poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for many federal and state public assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the National School Lunch Program. The poverty guidelines are currently calculated by adjusting the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.
The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to calculate regional poverty guidelines based on a combination of factors including average household expenditures on food, clothing, utilities, and transportation; the average cost of rental housing; and the average cost of health insurance. These factors shall be calculated using regional data as applicable. HHS must make available to the public a tool for determining the poverty guideline applicable to a given household.
The new regional poverty guidelines established by HHS may not be lower than existing, corresponding poverty guidelines as of the date of enactment of the bill. HHS shall review and evaluate the poverty guidelines at least every four years and propose changes to this methodology as appropriate.
The bill shall take effect three years after its enactment.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Poverty Line Act of 2023
Latest action (Dec 6, 2023): Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, 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.
Policy area: Social Welfare · Origin: House · Introduced: Dec 6, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.