H.R.6945 — Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act
House Roll Call
H.R.6945
| Bill | H.R.6945 — Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Recommit |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Failed |
| Totals | Yea 209 / Nay 213 / Present 0 / Not Voting 9 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 0 | 213 | 0 | 5 |
| D | 209 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Recommit
Bill Analysis
H.R. 6945 – Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act (119th Congress)
H.R. 6945 is a targeted amendment to the Social Security Act that restricts how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may regulate state use of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for certain pregnancy-related services.
Core purpose and effect
- Bars HHS from issuing, implementing, or enforcing any rule, guidance, or policy that would prohibit or restrict states from using TANF funds (including state maintenance-of-effort funds) to support “pregnancy centers” or similar entities that provide services to pregnant or parenting women.
- Effectively nullifies or preempts recent or future HHS guidance that disfavors TANF funding for crisis pregnancy centers or non‑medical, non‑evidence‑based counseling entities, so long as states deem the services “reasonably calculated” to accomplish TANF purposes.
Programs and authorities affected
- Amends Title IV-A of the Social Security Act (TANF).
- Limits HHS’s administrative and regulatory authority over TANF spending categories related to pregnancy support, counseling, and parenting services.
- Does not create a new program; instead, it constrains federal oversight of an existing block grant program.
Who benefits / who is regulated
- State TANF agencies gain broader discretion to fund:
- Pregnancy resource centers and crisis pregnancy centers
- Nonprofit organizations offering counseling, material support (e.g., diapers, formula), parenting classes, or referrals to social services for pregnant and parenting women.
- Pregnant and parenting low‑income women may see expanded availability of such services where states choose to fund them.
- HHS is restricted from disallowing or penalizing these expenditures based solely on the type of provider or service model, as long as states assert TANF statutory purposes are met.
Funding and budget impact
- No new federal spending authorization; TANF remains funded under existing law.
- The bill is about permissible uses of existing TANF dollars, not appropriations levels.
Timelines and implementation
- Provisions take effect upon enactment.
- Applies to current and future HHS rules, guidance, and enforcement actions concerning TANF-funded pregnancy and parenting support services.
Yea (209)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Nay (213)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
Not Voting (9)
J
John Garamendi
E
Eric Swalwell
