119-s970

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 970 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 970

 To establish a pilot program to improve the family self-sufficiency 
 program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025

 Mr. Reed (for himself and Mrs. Britt) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
 and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish a pilot program to improve the family self-sufficiency 
 program, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Helping More Families Save Act''.

SEC. 2. FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY ESCROW EXPANSION PILOT PROGRAM.

 

Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437u) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (p) Escrow Expansion Pilot Program.--
 ``

    (1) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection:
 ``
        (A) Covered family.--The term `covered family' 
 means a family that receives assistance under 

section 8 
 or 9 of this Act and is enrolled in the pilot program.
 ``
        (B) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' 
 means an entity described in subsection
            (c) (2) .
 ``
            (C) Pilot program.--The term `pilot program' 
 means the pilot program established under paragraph

    (2) .
 ``
            (D) Welfare assistance.--The term `welfare 
 assistance' has the meaning given the term in 

section 984.103 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
 any successor regulation.
 ``

    (2) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot 
 program under which the Secretary shall select not more than 25 
 eligible entities to establish and manage escrow accounts for 
 not more than 5,000 covered families, in accordance with this 
 subsection.
 ``

    (3) Escrow accounts.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An eligible entity selected to 
 participate in the pilot program--
 ``
            (i) shall establish an interest-bearing 
 escrow account and place into the account an 
 amount equal to any increase in the amount of 
 rent paid by each covered family in accordance 
 with the provisions of 

section 3, 8

    (o) , or 
 8

    (y) , as applicable, that is attributable to 
 increases in earned income by the covered 
 families during the participation of each 
 covered family in the pilot program; and
 ``
            (ii) notwithstanding any other provision 
 of law, may use funds it controls under 

section 8 or 9 for purposes of making the escrow 
 deposit for covered families assisted under, or 
 residing in units assisted under, 

section 8 or 
 9 of this title, respectively, provided such 
 funds are offset by the increase in the amount 
 of rent paid by the covered family.
 ``
        (B) Income limitation.--An eligible entity may 
 not escrow any amounts for any covered family whose 
 adjusted income exceeds 80 percent of the area median 
 income.
 ``
            (C) Withdrawals.--A covered family shall be able 
 to withdraw funds, including interest earned, from an 
 escrow account established by an eligible entity under 
 the pilot program--
 ``
            (i) after the covered family ceases to 
 receive welfare assistance; and
 ``
            (ii) 
            (I) not earlier than the date that is 
 5 years after the date on which the eligible 
 entity establishes the escrow account under 
 this subsection;
 ``
            (II) not later than the date that is 7 
 years after the date on which the eligible 
 entity establishes the escrow account under 
 this subsection, if the covered family chooses 
 to continue to participate in the pilot program 
 after the date that is 5 years after the date 
 on which the eligible entity establishes the 
 escrow account;
 ``
            (III) on the date the covered family 
 ceases to receive housing assistance under 
 

section 8 or 9, if such date is earlier than 5 
 years after the date on which the eligible 
 entity establishes the escrow account;
 ``
            (IV) earlier than 5 years after the date 
 on which the eligible entity establishes the 
 escrow account, if the covered family is using 
 the funds to advance a self-sufficiency goal as 
 approved by the eligible entity; or
 ``
            (V) under other circumstances in which 
 the Secretary determines an exemption for good 
 cause is warranted.
 ``
            (D) Interim recertification.--For purposes of the 
 pilot program, a covered family may recertify the 
 income of the covered family multiple times per year, 
 as determined by the Secretary, and not fewer than once 
 per year.
 ``
        (E) Contract or plan.--A covered family is not 
 required to complete a standard contract of 
 participation or an individual training and services 
 plan in order to participate in the pilot program.
 ``

    (4) Effect of increases in family income.--Any increase 
 in the earned income of a covered family during the enrollment 
 of the family in the pilot program may not be considered as 
 income or a resource for purposes of eligibility of the family 
 for other benefits, or amount of benefits payable to the 
 family, under any program administered by the Secretary.
 ``

    (5) Application.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking to 
 participate in the pilot program shall submit to the 
 Secretary an application--
 ``
            (i) at such time, in such manner, and 
 containing such information as the Secretary 
 may require by notice; and
 ``
            (ii) that includes the number of proposed 
 covered families to be served by the eligible 
 entity under this subsection.
 ``
        (B) Geographic and entity variety.--The Secretary 
 shall ensure that eligible entities selected to 
 participate in the pilot program--
 ``
            (i) are located across various States and 
 in both urban and rural areas; and
 ``
            (ii) vary by size and type, including 
 both public housing agencies and private owners 
 of projects receiving project-based rental 
 assistance under 

section 8.
 ``

    (6) Notification and opt-out.--An eligible entity 
 participating in the pilot program shall--
 ``
        (A) notify covered families of their enrollment 
 in the pilot program;
 ``
        (B) provide covered families with a detailed 
 description of the pilot program, including how the 
 pilot program will impact their rent and finances;
 ``
            (C) inform covered families that the families 
 cannot simultaneously participate in the pilot program 
 and the Family Self-Sufficiency program under this 
 section; and
 ``
            (D) provide covered families with the ability to 
 elect not to participate in the pilot program--
 ``
            (i) not less than 2 weeks before the date 
 on which the escrow account is established 
 under paragraph

    (3) ; and
 ``
            (ii) at any point during the duration of 
 the pilot program.
 ``

    (7) Maximum rents.--During the term of participation by a 
 covered family in the pilot program, the amount of rent paid by 
 the covered family shall be calculated under the rental 
 provisions of 

section 3 or 8

    (o) , as applicable.
 ``

    (8) Pilot program timeline.--
 ``
        (A) Awards.--Not later than 18 months after the 
 date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
 shall select the eligible entities to participate in 
 the pilot program.
 ``
        (B) Establishment and term of accounts.--An 
 eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot 
 program shall--
 ``
            (i) not later than 6 months after 
 selection, establish escrow accounts under 
 paragraph

    (3) for covered families; and
 ``
            (ii) maintain those escrow accounts for 
 not less than 5 years, or until the date the 
 family ceases to receive assistance under 
 

section 8 or 9, and, at the discretion of the 
 covered family, not more than 7 years after the 
 date on which the escrow account is 
 established.
 ``

    (9) Nonparticipation and housing assistance.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Assistance under 

section 8 or 9 
 for a family that elects not to participate in the 
 pilot program shall not be delayed or denied by reason 
 of such election.
 ``
        (B) No termination.--Housing assistance may not 
 be terminated as a consequence of participating, or not 
 participating, in the pilot program under this 
 subsection for any period of time.
 ``

    (10) Study.--Not later than 8 years after the date the 
 Secretary selects eligible entities to participate in the pilot 
 program under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a 
 study and submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
 Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial 
 Services of the House of Representatives a report on outcomes 
 for covered families under the pilot program, which shall 
 evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in assisting 
 families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, 
 and the impact coaching and supportive services, or the lack 
 thereof, had on individual incomes.
 ``

    (11) Waivers.--To allow selected eligible entities to 
 effectively administer the pilot program and make the required 
 escrow account deposits under this subsection, the Secretary 
 may waive requirements under this section.
 ``

    (12) Termination.--The pilot program under this 
 subsection shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after 
 the date of enactment of this subsection.
 ``

    (13) Authorization of appropriations.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
 appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2026 
 $5,000,000--
 ``
            (i) for technical assistance related to 
 implementation of the pilot program; and
 ``
            (ii) to carry out an evaluation of the 
 pilot program under paragraph

    (10) .
 ``
        (B) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated under 
 this subsection shall remain available until 
 expended.''.
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