Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Lifting American Children From Poverty Act”.
Lifting American Children From Poverty Act
A BILL
To establish a task force on child and family economic security and stability for economic growth.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
According to the United States Census Bureau, poverty rates for children under the age of 18 have increased to 16.1 percent in 2020, from 14.4 percent in 2019. The increase means that now 11,600,000 children live in poverty, as opposed to 10,000,000 in 2019.
Data from the Children’s Defense Fund show that child poverty is an issue that is concentrated in the American south, with statistics showing that Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia have over a quarter of their child population living in poverty.
A 2018 Social Work Research report estimated that the annual economic costs of child poverty was $36,000,000,000 to $177,000,000,000, demonstrating how child poverty stalls economic productivity.
Recent data from the Census Bureau Current Population Survey shows that child poverty increased sharply during the COVID–19 pandemic among Black and Latino families. More specifically, child poverty rose by 4.2 percent in Latino families and 2.8 percent in Black families.
A report from the Urban Institute demonstrates that poverty is closely associated with a lack of educational achievement. For instance, only 64 percent of persistently poor children graduate from high school.
The problem of child poverty also acutely affects children of color, with 1 in 5 living in poverty. Another statistic from the Children’s Defense Fund (2019) shows that 71 percent of children living in poverty were children of color. Children of color are also 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty than their White counterparts.
The Census Bureau Current Population Survey also shows that COVID–19 erased recent gains in the United States toward combating child poverty. In September 2020, child poverty rates were at its lowest since 1973.
3.4 percent of families reported not having enough to eat prepandemic, but during the pandemic that number rose to 12 percent according to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis. Among households with children, that number was 16 percent.
Data published by the National Public Radio show that the child tax credit cut monthly child poverty rates by 30 percent and kept 3,700,000 children out of poverty. In addition, 91 percent of low-income families spent the tax credit on basic needs, such as food. The monthly payments cut food insufficiency by 25 percent.
Sec. 3 Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish an interagency task force that would create a strategic and comprehensive plan to reduce child poverty, particularly in States with higher poverty rates than the national average of 21 percent, by—
analyzing the state of child and intergenerational poverty and its causes;
creating an inventory of all available Federal programs aimed at reducing child poverty; and
making recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Federal programs that reduce child poverty.
Sec. 4 Interagency task force on child poverty
Establishment— Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Secretary of Health and Human Services shall convene a permanent task force on child and family economic security and stability for economic growth (in this Act referred to as the “Task Force”).
Permanent membership— The Task Force shall be composed of the following officials (or their designees):
The Secretary of Labor, who shall serve as a co-chair of the Task Force.
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, who shall serve as a co-chair of the Task Force.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, who shall serve as a co-chair of the Task Force.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
The Secretary of the Department of Commerce.
The Secretary of Education.
The Secretary of the Treasury.
The Director of the Bureau of the Census.
Such other officials of Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting jointly, may designate or invite (as appropriate) to serve on the Task Force.
Rotational membership— The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, jointly, nominate the following members to the task force for a period not to exceed 2 years:
Two experts on child poverty. The experts nominated under this paragraph must have conducted and published a significant body of research on child poverty issues.
Two local government representatives from States exhibiting child poverty rates of 22 percent or more who have responsibilities in allocating, distributing or determining eligibility for means-tested benefits.
Two representatives from nonprofit, community serving organizations working to address child poverty through evidence-based and evidence-informed approaches, which meet the scientifically based methods definition of this Act.
Two representatives from State-level labor or health and human services agencies in States with above average child poverty rates.
Two representatives from the private sector that have engaged in corporate social responsibility efforts in low-income communities, and who have measured success using metrics that are grounded on scientifically based methods.
One representative with expertise in program evaluation and evidence-based policymaking.
One representative with expertise in program evaluation or implementation with Indian Tribes.
Term— Except as noted in subsection (c), each member shall be appointed for the life of the Task Force.
Vacancies— A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
Pay—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), members of the Task Force shall serve without pay.
Travel expenses— Each member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
Quorum— A majority of members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
Sec. 5 Powers and duties
Powers of the Task Force—
Hearings and sessions— The Task Force may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Task Force considers appropriate. The Task Force may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
Stakeholders— The Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting jointly, shall, as appropriate, invite representatives of stakeholders to attend meetings of the Task Force, appear before the Task Force, and file statements with the Task Force, subject to such requirements as the Secretaries may determine.
Powers of members and agents— Any member or agent of the Task Force may, if authorized by the Task Force, take any action which the Task Force is authorized to take by this section.
Obtaining official data— The Task Force may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out this section. Upon request of the chairperson of the Task Force, the head of that department or agency shall furnish that information to the Task Force.
Mails— The Task Force may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.
Administrative support services— Upon the request of the Task Force, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Task Force, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Task Force to carry out its responsibilities under this section.
Duties— The Task Force shall submit to the President and Congress, a strategic plan to reduce child poverty, with emphasis and prioritization of those States experiencing higher than average poverty rates. Such plan shall require the Task Force to—
analyze the state of poverty in States experiencing higher than average child policy to identify common themes or patterns;
create an inventory of existing Federal programs targeting child poverty, and the different factors that lead to it including education, labor, child care and development, health, and housing;
identify duplicative programs, gaps in coverage or programming, and programs that would benefit from flexibility to blend and braid funding;
analyze evidence of the effectiveness of Federal programs in the inventory to promote continuous improvement and to assure accountability;
provide recommendations, giving priority preference for States exhibiting above average poverty, on how to enhance, streamline, scale, improve, expand effective programs or repurpose ineffective programs, through legislative, executive and agency actions, including—
new allocations in funding, for the expansion of effective programs;
pilot initiatives to improve the performance of underperforming Federal programs and initiatives, which shall be prioritized for States experiencing above average child poverty;
considering tiered evidence grant making to develop, implement, replicate, scale, and evaluate evidence-based innovations;
considering flexibility and waiver pilots to streamline programming;
considering Pay for Success initiatives, when appropriate; and
considering repurposing ineffective programs;
recommendations must also include recommendations with the intention of creating, enhancing or improving partnerships among Federal, State, local governments, Indian tribes and the private, academic, and nonprofit sectors;
study the effect of the child tax credit under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in cutting child poverty and the effect of an expanded and permanent child tax credit;
the Task Force must consider approaches that are potentially successful in urban and rural environments;
the Task Force must consider the needs of immigrant or limited English language speaking communities, when appropriate;
the Task Force must consider the needs of Indian tribes;
provide policy guidance and strategies on developing coordinated, coherent, and cohesive cross-agency implementation of actions and budgeting, with an emphasis on data and appropriate metrics;
devise comprehensive action plans, including multiyear and annual priorities;
create an accountability mechanism that would allow Congress to monitor progress in States’ child poverty rates, and hold States accountable in instances of minimal improvement, stagnant progress or noncompliance; and
consider, and adopt mechanisms that are documented, using scientifically based methods, to effectively reduce child poverty, which may include—
tiered evidence grantmaking that allocates funding based on the level of evidence provided, with smaller awards made to test new and innovative service models and larger awards made to scale service models with stronger evidence;
increased flexibility to braid and blend funds by allowing for improved coordination, comprehensive multigenerational programming and streamlining of Federal funding; and
pay for success initiatives that tie payment for service delivery to the achievement of measurable outcomes.
Supplement, not supplant— The Task Force shall not consider or adopt strategies that would supplant State or local funds.
Sec. 6 Provision of staff, experts, and consultants
Director— The Task Force shall have a director who shall be appointed by the co-chairs, acting jointly.
Staff appointments— Subject to rules prescribed by the Task Force, the co-chairs, acting jointly, may appoint additional personnel as the co-chairs consider appropriate.
Applicability of certain civil service laws— The director and staff of the Task Force shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
Experts and consultants— Subject to rules prescribed by the Task Force, the co-chairs, acting jointly, may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
Staff to Federal agencies— Upon request of the co-chairs, acting jointly, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Task Force to assist it in carrying out its duties under this section.
Sec. 7 Initial report
First report to congress— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall provide to the Secretary of Labor and Congress a report that includes—
a description of the state of poverty in States with child poverty rates of 22 percent or above, including—
the workforce participation and employment rates;
the percentage of children living in poverty, including counties or school districts with persistent child poverty;
an estimate of both the percentage and number of individuals who are self employed;
the average reading and mathematics proficiency for elementary school, from third grade and thereafter, and secondary school students;
rates of secondary and post-secondary completion for those experiencing poverty;
the number and percentage of individuals participating in means-tested benefits programs;
an inventory and analysis of all Federal programs and their evidence base aimed at reducing child poverty or any of its casual variables;
a summary of existing studies that have used scientifically based research methods to evaluate the effectiveness of Federal programs and recommendations for ensuring the studies are made publicly available online in a user-friendly format; and
a plan for legislative, executive, or other actions, to reduce child poverty rates, with a specific focus on jurisdictions with above average child poverty rates, and address any issues identified as a result of the initial report through—
increasing enrollment or expansion of Federal programs that have shown to be effective in States with higher than average child poverty rates;
building scholarly literature and evidence, including tiered-evidence approaches, to generate Federal strategies and new funding opportunities for States with higher than average child poverty rates;
encouraging the use of flexibility waiver pilot programs to blend funding and coordinate programming, when appropriate, which would grant priorities for States with higher than average child poverty levels;
providing tax incentives for job creation; and
creating economic incentives by—
exploring the impact of earned income tax credits;
reducing tax burden for families of children living in poverty; and
providing tax incentives for nonprofit and private sector agents to reduce family and child poverty rates;
recommendations for States to engage with local governments, nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, and child poverty experts; and
a plan for the creation of an accountability mechanism to ensure that child poverty rates are monitored and States held accountable for progress.
Subsequent reports— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the Task Force shall submit to the President and the Congress, make publicly available, and disseminate a report detailing—
the strategies developed to address deficiencies noted by the report under subsection (a);
in the case of reports subsequent to the first report of this subsection, a description of the accomplishments of the task force since the preceding report;
national priorities for addressing child poverty, economic growth, and family stability in the United States;
updates on Federal research findings and research needs regarding child and family economic security and stability for economic growth;
information submitted to the Task Force by Federal departments and agencies for inclusion in the report;
information submitted by stakeholders for inclusion in the report; and
progress on strategies in the previous report in States with above average child poverty rates in the original report, which will include—
updated child poverty rates, including the nominal and percentage value changes from the original report;
workforce participation rates among families with children, and among youth;
secondary and post-secondary education enrollment and completion rates; and
any other outcome indicators, along with necessary benchmarks, that the Task Force deems as important variables in measuring progress towards the eradication of child poverty.
Sec. 8 Required records and public notices
Meetings—
In general— The Task Force shall meet not less than 3 times in the first year after the establishment of the Task Force, and not less than twice per year thereafter.
Field hearings— The Task Force, in addition, shall conduct at least one hearing in any one of the States that meet the poverty rate percentage established in section 4(c)(2).
Notice— The Task Force shall—
publish in the Federal Register timely notice of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force; and
provide for other types of public notice to ensure that all interested persons receive timely notice of each upcoming meeting of the Task Force.
Minutes—
In general— The Task Force shall record and maintain detailed minutes of each meeting of the Task Force, including—
the meeting agenda;
a record of the persons present;
a complete and accurate description of matters discussed at the meeting and conclusions reached; and
copies of all reports received, issued, or approved by the Task Force in connection with the meeting.
Public availability; copying— The Task Force shall make such minutes available for public inspection and copying.
Accuracy— The co-chairs of the Task Force shall certify the accuracy of all such minutes.
Sec. 9 Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.
Sec. 10 Termination of Task Force
The Task Force shall terminate no later than 4 years after enactment of this Act.
Sec. 11 Definitions
In this Act:
Child living in poverty— The term child living in poverty means an individual—
who is under the age of 18;
who lives in a State where the average poverty rate is higher than the national average of 21 percent; and
whose family has an income at or below the poverty line.
ESEA terms— The terms elementary school, poverty line, secondary school, and institution of higher education have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
Indian tribe— The term Indian tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
Means-tested Federal benefit program— The term means-tested Federal benefit program means a mandatory spending program of the Federal Government, in which eligibility for the program’s benefits, or the amount of such benefits, are determined on the basis of income or resources of the individual or family seeking the benefit, and includes—
the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.);
the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.);
the free and reduced price school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the summer food service program for children under section 13 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1761);
the program of block grants for States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
the Medicaid program;
the earned income credit allowed under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
the refundable portion of the child tax credit allowed under section 24(d) of such Code; and
payments received under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
Scientifically based research methods— The term scientifically based research methods means—
research that applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to child poverty; and
includes research that—
employs systemic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;
involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn;
relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and observations; and
has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review.
Tiered-evidence approaches— The term tiered-evidence approaches include research or activities, including grant classification, where such research, activities or grants are awarded to programs according to their level of evidence of effectiveness.
State— The term State means the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Repurpose— The term repurpose means shifting funding from low-performing or low-use programs, policies, or practices to high impact programs, policies, or practices.