[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8697 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8697
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a
demonstration project to test the impact of a guaranteed monthly income
on the health of individuals enrolled for medical assistance under the
Medicaid program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2024
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Norton, Mr. Mullin,
and Mr. Robert Garcia of California) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a
demonstration project to test the impact of a guaranteed monthly income
on the health of individuals enrolled for medical assistance under the
Medicaid program.
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 ``Guaranteed Additional Income for
families in Need Act of 2024'' or the ``GAIN Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Medical research in recent decades has demonstrated the
significant impact of income volatility on individuals' health.
(2) Research has found that income volatility can lead to
increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, depression and
anxiety, and cognitive decline.
(3) From February 2019 to January 2021, the city of
Stockton, California implemented a universal basic income pilot
program. Participants reported improved physical, mental, and
emotional health as a result of increased financial assistance,
according to the final program evaluation published in the
Journal of Urban Health.
SEC. 3. GUARANTEED MONTHLY INCOME DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a 5-year
demonstration project (in this section referred to as the ``Project'')
under which a participating eligible entity shall provide a guaranteed
monthly income to individuals enrolled for medical assistance under the
Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1396 et seq.), and measure the impact of such guaranteed monthly income
on the health of such participants.
(b) Application.--An eligible entity seeking to participate in the
Project under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require, including information with respect to the manner
in which such entity will distribute the guaranteed monthly income.
(c) Project Design.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award not less than 10
grants to eligible entities on a competitive basis to provide
participants in the Project with a guaranteed monthly income.
(2) Option to target subpopulation.--An eligible entity
participating in the Project may choose to focus on a
particular subpopulation of individuals enrolled for medical
assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act.
(3) Guaranteed monthly income.--
(A) Participant requirements.--To participate in
the Project, a participant shall be enrolled for
medical assistance under title XIX at the time such
participant is selected for participation.
(B) Distribution of monthly income.--
(i) In general.--Each participant shall
receive a monthly payment, in an amount of not
less than $500, as determined by the eligible
entity through which such participant is
enrolled for participation in the Project.
(ii) Method of distribution.--Monthly
payments made under the Project shall be made
by direct deposit or paper check.
(iii) No tax liability.--Any payments made
to a participant under clause (i) shall not be
considered income for purposes of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
(iv) No conditions on use of payments.--An
eligible entity may not put any conditions on
how participants spend the monthly payments
made under the Project, and the manner in which
a participant spends such payments shall not
impact the eligibility of such participant to
participate in the Project.
(4) Limitation on use of funds.--Not more than 20 percent
of the total funds awarded to an eligible entity under this
section may used for administrative costs incurred by such
eligible entity in implementing the Project, or for outreach
and education efforts made by such entity with respect to such
Project.
(d) Eligible Entity.--For purposes of this subsection, an eligible
entity means one of the following entities:
(1) Any of the following units of local government:
(A) A county.
(B) A borough.
(C) A municipality.
(D) A city.
(E) A town.
(F) A township.
(G) A parish.
(H) A local public authority, including any public
housing agency (as defined in section 3(b) of the
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437(b)).
(I) A special district.
(J) A school district.
(K) An intrastate district.
(L) A council of governments, without regard to
whether such council is incorporated as a nonprofit
corporation under State law.
(M) Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-
State, regional, or intra-State or local government.
(2) An Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such terms
are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act).
(3) A nonprofit organization.
(e) Surveys.--
(1) Baseline survey.--Prior to the first distribution of
guaranteed monthly income payment under the Project, each
eligible entity shall conduct a baseline survey of the
participants receiving such income from such entity that
includes--
(A) the demographic data of each participant,
including the age, race, ethnicity, employment status,
marital status, income (including individual income and
total household income) and number of dependents with
respect to such participant; and
(B) the financial circumstances of each participant
and the impact of those circumstances on such
participant's mental health and physical health.
(2) Ongoing survey.--Not less than 3 times during each
calendar year in which an entity is participating in the
project under this subsection, each such entity shall survey
each participant receiving monthly payments from such entity to
determine--
(A) how the monthly payments are spent, including
groceries, rent, utility bills, or other expenses; and
(B) the impact, if any, on--
(i) the employment status of each
participant;
(ii) the mental health and physical health
of each participant;
(iii) the mental health and physical health
of the members of each participant's household;
and
(iv) the status of each participant's
financial circumstances, including any impact
to such participant's credit score, ability to
grow savings, or ability to make financial
investments.
(3) Guidance.--Prior to the first distribution of
guaranteed monthly income payment under the Project, the
Secretary shall issue guidance to each eligible entity
participating in the Project on conducting the surveys required
under this subsection. Such guidance shall include
recommendations for how to determine the financial
circumstances, mental health, and physical health of a
participant for purposes of such surveys.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Reports to secretary.--Not later than 1 year after the
date on which the first guaranteed monthly income funds are
distributed in accordance with subsection (c)(3)(B), and
annually thereafter, each eligible entity shall submit to the
Secretary a report on the Project, including the information
collected from the surveys described in subsection (e).
(2) Reports to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
first report is submitted under paragraph (1), and every 2
years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the Project, including a year-over-year analysis of
the survey data submitted to the Secretary under paragraph (1),
and any recommendations with respect to potential legislative
action.
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