"Superwaiver" Proposals in Current Welfare Reform Debate

Publication Date: April 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

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Abstract:

Welfare discussions in the 109th Congress include consideration of an Administration-proposed "superwaiver" that would enable states and localities to waive rules of various welfare-related programs. Formally called Program Coordination Demonstration Projects, these waivers are included in a long-term welfare reauthorization bill (H.R. 240) approved by a House Ways and Means subcommittee on March 15.

This version of the superwaiver is somewhat more restrictive than originally proposed by the Administration but includes a broad array of programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child care, Social Services Block Grants (SSBG), employment training, housing and homelessness programs, and food stamps. A more narrow version, approved by the Senate Finance Committee (S. 667), would include only TANF, SSBG, and mandatory child care, and participating states would be limited to 10. This report will be updated to track further legislative activity. (For a broader discussion of this issue, see CRS Report RL32859, The "Superwaiver" Proposal and Service Integration: A History of Federal Initiatives.)