On Agreeing to the Amendment

Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) of the Social Security Act to require the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) to make grants to states for demonstration projects that provide wage subsidies to enable low-income individuals to enter and retain employment. At least one of these demonstration projects shall fund programs that offer apprenticeships registered under the National Apprenticeship Act.

States may use grant funds to subsidize an individual's wages for up to 12 months. The subsidy may be up to 50% of an individual's wages. Individuals are eligible for subsidized wages if they: (1) are recipients of TANF or similar state assistance or a noncustodial parent of a child receiving such assistance, (2) are unemployed when the subsidy begins, and (3) have an income below 200% of the poverty line.

States must ensure that participants in subsidized job programs do not displace current workers.

The ACF must reserve funding to carry out the bill from amounts in the Contingency Fund for State Welfare Programs.