Legislative Background
Recent Action on Charitable Choice
Congress has enacted four charitable choice measures in recent years. The first, passed in 1996 as part of the welfare reform Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, became the basic model for future charitable choice provisions. It authorizes States to provide TANF services through contracts with nongovernmental entities or through the provision of certificates or vouchers, redeemable with private entities, to TANF beneficiaries. Congress also included charitable choice language in the reauthorization of the Community Services Block Grant program in 1998 and in the substance abuse and prevention services provided under both the block grant and discretionary grant provisions…
