What does Preamble of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This bill proposes to amend the Community Services Block Grant Act. The stated purpose of the bill is to update the Federal poverty line. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 18, 2025.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This bill is formally titled the Poverty Line Act of 2025.

What does STATEMENT OF PURPOSE. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This Act aims to update the calculation of the Federal poverty line. The updated calculation will be published in the Federal Register. The purpose is to expand eligibility for and utilization of Federal assistance and benefits. The updated poverty line will incorporate more accurate costs of basic needs. It intends to keep pace with changing household spending norms. The calculation will account for regional variations in the cost of living. It seeks to reflect minimum expenditures required for social and economic mobility.

What does AMENDMENT TO DEFINITION OF POVERTY LINE. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act to revise the definition of the 'poverty line'. The revised poverty line will be calculated based on household expenditures for food, clothing, telephone, and internet, rental housing costs, child care costs, and healthcare costs. The calculation includes a 5-year rolling average of household expenditures, adjusted for inflation. The Secretary, in coordination with the Bureau of the Census, will revise and publish the poverty line at least annually. The Secretary will use State-level, county-level, and geographic rating area data to produce poverty line variants. States may revise the poverty line to not exceed 125 percent of the official poverty line if it serves the objectives of the block grant program. The poverty line will be used as an eligibility criterion in the community services block grant program. A two-year safe harbor period is established for participants moving between geographic locations, preventing a reduction in the applicable poverty line. The Secretary will provide a lookup tool on the Department of Health and Human Services website to determine the poverty line for a given household.

What does TRANSITION. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit a report to Congress. The report must identify Federal laws and regulations that use the Federal poverty line under section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act. The report should also recommend which of those laws and regulations should be updated to reflect changes made by this Act.

What does EVALUATION AND REPORT. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This section mandates evaluations of the poverty line. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must conduct these evaluations every four years, beginning in the fourth year after the Act's effective date. The evaluation concerns the poverty line as determined under section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act, as amended by this Act. The Secretary must publish a report detailing the evaluation's results. The Secretary is also required to propose any changes to the poverty line that would better achieve the purpose of this Act.

What does RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a rule of construction for the Act. The Bureau of the Census and other federal agencies are not prohibited from collecting, calculating, or publishing other poverty measures. This applies to purposes other than those specified in the Act.

What does EFFECTIVE DATE. of Poverty Line Act of 2025 do?

This Act will take effect three years after its enactment. The amendment made by this Act will also take effect three years after enactment.

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Poverty Line Act of 2025

Last updated: 2/18/2025 · Introduced: 2/18/2025

Author: Kevin Mullin (D-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill updates the federal poverty line calculation to incorporate current household spending on necessities like food, housing, childcare, and healthcare, using a five-year rolling average adjusted for inflation.
The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish an updated poverty line annually, accounting for regional cost-of-living variations and providing a lookup tool for households.
States can adjust the poverty line up to 125% of the official federal line within the Community Services Block Grant program, and a two-year safe harbor period is established for individuals relocating.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 6 more.

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