118 HR 6437 IH: Fostering Family Cohesion Nationwide Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-11-15
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I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6437
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 15, 2023
Mr. Sablan (for himself, Mr. Moylan, Mrs. Radewagen, Ms. Plaskett, and Mr. Case) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To extend eligibility for programs under title IV of the Social Security Act to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Fostering Family Cohesion Nationwide Act”.
2.

Extension of eligibility
(a)

In general
Section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) is amended in the final sentence by inserting “and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” before the period at the end.
(b)

Eligibility for the program of temporary assistance for needy families
(1)

In general
Part A of title IV of such Act (42 U.S.C. 401–419) is amended by inserting after section 413 the following:
“414.

Applicability to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
(a)

Family assistance grant
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (in this section referred to as the “Commonwealth”) shall be entitled to receive from the Secretary a family assistance grant in an amount equal to $1,631,000 for each fiscal year covered by a family assistance plan approved under subsection (b).
(b)

3-Year family assistance plan
The Secretary shall approve a 3-year family assistance plan submitted by the Commonwealth if the plan—
(1)
outlines the approach of the Commonwealth to providing benefits and services for needy families for the 3-year period, consistent with this section;
(2)
specifies whether the benefits and services provided under the plan will be provided by the Commonwealth or through agreements or contracts with other entities;
(3)
provides that a family receiving assistance under the plan may not receive duplicative assistance from other State programs funded under this part; and
(4)
identifies the employment opportunities in the Commonwealth and the manner in which the Commonwealth will cooperate and participate in enhancing such opportunities for recipients of assistance under the plan.
(c)

Limitations on applicability of other sections of this part
(1)

In general
Except as provided in this subsection, the other sections of this part, other than section 418, shall not apply to the Commonwealth.
(2)

Minimum work participation requirements; time limits; emergency assistance; accountability
Subsections (c), (d), and (e)(1) of section 412 shall apply to the Commonwealth in the same manner in which such subsections apply to an Indian tribe.
(3)

Eligibility for Federal loans
Section 406 shall apply to the Commonwealth, if the Commonwealth has a family assistance plan approved under this section, in the same manner as such section applies to any other State, except that section 406(c) shall be applied by substituting “section 414(a)” for “section 403(a)”.
(4)

Penalties
(A)
Subsections (a)(1), (a)(6), (b), and (c) of section 409 shall apply to the Commonwealth in the same manner as such subsections apply to any other State.
(B)
Section 409(a)(3) shall apply to the Commonwealth by substituting “meet minimum work participation requirements established under section 414(c)(2)” for “comply with section 407(a)”.
(5)

Data collection and reporting
Section 411 shall apply to the Commonwealth if the Commonwealth has a family assistance plan approved under this section.
(d)

Appropriation
Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as are necessary for grants under this section.”.
(2)

Conforming amendment
Section 419(5) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 619(5)) is amended by striking “and American Samoa” and inserting “American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”.
(c)

Matching grants; limitation on total payments
(1)

In general
Section 1108(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308(c)) is amended—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking “and American Samoa” and inserting “American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”; and
(B)
in paragraph (4)—
(i)
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” at the end;
(ii)
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
“(E)
$2,131,000 with respect to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”.
(2)

Technical amendment
Section 1108(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308(a)(1)) is amended by inserting “(as in effect before the amendment made by section 301 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972)” after “XVI”.
(d)

Conforming amendments
(1)

Sharing of collected child support with the Federal Government
Section 457(c)(3)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 657(c)(3)(A)) is amended by striking “and American Samoa” and inserting “American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”.
(2)

Exemption from AFDC-related eligibility requirement in making foster care maintenance payments
Section 472(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 672(a)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting “in the case of a State other than the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,” before “the child”.
(3)

Exemption from electronic interstate data exchange requirements with respect to cases involving the interstate placement of children
Section 471(a)(25) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 671(a)(25)) is amended by striking “or American Samoa” and inserting “American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands”.
(e)

Start-Up funding for child support enforcement program
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make a grant of $5,000,000 to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the costs of developing a program pursuant to part D of title IV of the Social Security Act that are reasonable, necessary, and allocable to the program, including the following:
(1)
Planning for the initial development and implementation of the program.
(2)
Developing laws, codes, guidelines, systems, and procedures necessary for the program.
(3)
Recruiting, hiring, and training program staff.
(4)
Any other reasonable, necessary, and allocable costs with a direct correlation to the initial development of the program, consistent with the cost principles in subpart E of part 75 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, and approved by the Secretary.
(f)

Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.
(g)

Technical assistance
Not later than October 1 of the 1st fiscal year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands with technical assistance in developing plans to meet the requirements of sections 402, 454, and 471(a) of the Social Security Act.