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H.R. 1167: Welfare Reform Act of 2011

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H.R. 1167: Welfare Reform Act of 2011

112th Congress · introduced 2011-03-17 · Social Welfare · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture .

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2011-03-17 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture . Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Welfare Reform Act of 2011

Plain summary

Welfare Reform Act of 2011 - Welfare Reform Restoration Act - Amends part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of title IV of the Social Security Act to revise the TANF program by: (1) eliminating the temporary modification of the caseload reduction credit, and (2) reducing funding of state family assistance grants. Amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to: (1) restore its former name, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and restore its text as if the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 had not been enacted; (2) rename supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits as the food stamp program; (3) revise work requirements for the food stamp program; and (4) require able-bodied work eligible adult members of a family unit to participate in a work activation program during a full month of participation in the food stamp program, fulfilling specified levels of work activity during that month. (Work activation means, not employment, but supervised job search, community service activities, education and job training, workfare, or drug and alcohol treatment.) Specifies a financial reward for any state that reduces its food stamp caseload below calendar 2006 levels. Requires the President to include means-tested welfare spending in every budget submission. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to define and establish an aggregate cap for means-tested welfare spending. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to states to reward reductions in poverty and government dependence and increases in self-sufficiency. Prohibits the expenditure for abortions, with certain exceptions, of any funds authorized or appropriated by federal law, and funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by federal law. Prohibits funding for health benefits plans that cover abortion. Prohibits the allowance of any tax credit with respect to amounts paid or incurred for an abortion or with respect to amounts paid or incurred for a health benefits plan (including premium assistance) that includes coverage of abortion.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Welfare Reform Act of 2011

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] · 75 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Tim Scott (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), Darrell Issa (R-CA), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Steve Womack (R-AR), Andy Harris (R-MD), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (R-TN), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ) and 15 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4] reported raising $5.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong112-hr1167 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112