Bills · HR 1859
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1859Social Welfare
Apprenticeship Opportunity Act
INTRO MAR 5· LAST ACTION MAR 5
READING
2MIN
COSPONSORS
7
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tries to remove a financial barrier for low-income individuals looking to improve their job skills and become self-sufficient. Currently, if someone on TANF starts an apprenticeship and earns money, that income could reduce or eliminate their benefits, making it harder for them to afford basic necessities while training. By not counting this initial apprenticeship income, the bill aims to encourage more people to pursue valuable career training, which can lead to better-paying jobs and reduce long-term reliance on public assistance.
If this bill becomes law, more TANF recipients might feel empowered to take on apprenticeships, knowing their safety net won't immediately disappear. If it doesn't pass, the current system continues, potentially discouraging some from entering these training programs due to the immediate financial impact on their benefits. This bill addresses the tension between requiring work or training and providing necessary support during the transition to employment.
KEY PROVISIONS
3AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires states to ignore income earned during the first year of a federally registered apprenticeship when deciding eligibility for TANF.
This makes it financially easier for TANF recipients to get job training without losing benefits.
PROVISION 02
States that do not disregard this income will have their federal TANF grant reduced by 1% for the following year.
This provides a strong incentive for states to comply with the new rule.
PROVISION 03
The new rules will begin on the first day of the first federal fiscal year after the bill is passed into law.
This sets a clear timeline for implementation for states and beneficiaries.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 7
D· Washington
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
16
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 7 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 5
Introduced in House
MAR 5
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1859
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 5, 2025
Last actionMar 5, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 5, 2025
House BillHR 1859Social Welfare
Apprenticeship Opportunity Act
INTRODUCED MAR 5, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 5, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
2 min
COSPONSORS
7
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
