CivicIndex

Federal Policy

Social Welfare and Anti-Poverty Programs

Social welfare policy covers SNAP, TANF, SSI, low-income housing assistance, and child nutrition programs. Much of it routes through tax credits (EITC, Child Tax Credit) administered through the IRS rather than through standalone programs.

Committees with jurisdiction

  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • House Committee on Agriculture
  • House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Senate Committee on Finance

Members who specialize in this area

Leadership

Committee members

166 more members on jurisdictional committees not shown.

Recent bills in this area

  • HR. 8872 — Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

    Sponsor:
    Mike Carey · Republican · OH
    Latest action:
    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

  • HR. 8884 — Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act

    Sponsor:
    Austin Scott · Republican · GA
    Latest action:
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 16.

  • S. 4625 — Elder Pride Act

    Latest action:
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  • HRES. 1319 — Ending child poverty.

    Sponsor:
    Rashida Tlaib · Democratic · MI
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

  • SRES. 749 — A resolution designating May 2026 as "Older Americans Month".

    Latest action:
    Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2452; text: CR S2446)

  • HR. 8952 — Elder Pride Act of 2026

    Sponsor:
    Suzanne Bonamici · Democratic · OR
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

  • HR. 8867 — PLAN Act of 2026

    Sponsor:
    Thomas R. Suozzi · Democratic · NY
    Latest action:
    Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

  • HRES. 1241 — Of inquiry requesting the President of the United States to furnish certain information to the House of Representatives relating to access to and usage of NUMIDENT, death information, and other personally identifiable information in the possession of the Social Security Administration by an individual acting for or on behalf of the Department of Government Efficiency.

    Sponsor:
    John B. Larson · Democratic · CT
    Latest action:
    Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Frequently asked

What's the Earned Income Tax Credit?

The EITC is a refundable federal tax credit for low- and moderate-income working people. It's one of the largest anti-poverty programs in the U.S. — administered through the tax code rather than as a benefit program.