STAND. COM. REP. No. l‘pibéy
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR U L 2023
RE: s.R. No. 50
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.R. No. 50
entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
TO INTRODUCE AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO AMEND TITLE IV-A OF
THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT TO ALLOW TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR
NEEDY FAMILIES FUNDS TO BE USED BY STATES TO BUILD
TRANSITIONAL SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL
HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
intent of this measure is to urge Hawaii's
The purpose and
congressional delegation to introduce and support legislation to
amend Title IV—A of the Social Security Act to allow Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families funds to be used by states to build
transitional supportive housing and affordable rental housing.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Your
Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of
Human Services.
Your Committee finds that the federal Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families (TANF) program, administered by the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, provides block
grants to states that may be used to provide a wide range of
services and short—term cash assistance payments to certain low—
income families with children. However, under existing federal
2023-2582 SR SSCR SMA.dOCX
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law, TANF funds cannot be used for capital improvement projects,
such as the development and construction of housing. Hawaii's
unspent TANF reserves are the second highest in the nation as a
proportion of states' annual block grants. Accordingly, because
funding is major factor in the creation of affordable housing
a
(especially supportive housing), this measure urges Hawaii's
congressional delegation to introduce and support legislation to
amend existing federal law to allow TANF funds to be used to build
transitional supportive housing and affordable rental housing to
help the State address its housing needs.
Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony
submitted by the Department of Human Services that, due to the
nature of the TANF program, if
federal laws were amended to allow
for the construction of affordable housing with TANF funds, any
resulting project would likely be made available only to those
specific families eligible under the TANF program. Due to the
State's ongoing housing crisis and need for a broad range of
housing inventory across multiple groups of individuals, families,
and price points, your Committee further notes that Hawaii's
congressional delegation should also support legislation that
increases housing resources to the federal Department of Housing
and Urban Development, given the Department's mission to create
strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and affordable homes
for all.
affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
As
Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 50 and
recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Housing,
STfi‘LEY CHAN-’EChair >
2023—2582 SR SSCR SMA.dOCX
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Housing
HOU
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
$1 50 Hou 05/50/2025
D The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:
The Recom endationis:
Munamended D Pass,with amendments D Hold D Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
CHANG, Stanley (C)
KANUHA, Dru Mamo (v0)
\//
\//
\//
AQUINo, Henry J.C.
RHOADS, Karl
AWA, Brenton /
\/ /
Recommendation:
TOTA L 4/
Adopted D Not Adopted
Chair’s orDesignee’s Signature:
Distribution: Original
File with Committee Report
6K! Yellow J
Clerk's Office
Pink
Drafting Agency
Goldenrod
Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 11/30/22