U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Marsha Blackburn Introduce Legislation to Expand Workforce Participation and Enable Self-Sufficiency 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) today introduced the Pathways to a Thriving Household (PATH) Act, legislation aimed at expanding workforce participation among federal housing assistance recipients. 

The PATH Act seeks to codify a recent proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to allow well-performing public housing agencies (PHA) and owners to voluntarily implement work requirements for work-eligible adults receiving HUD assistance. The legislation targets only able-bodied, working-age individuals without dependents, and aims to boost employment and enable families toward self-sufficiency, while encouraging responsible federal spending. 

“Over the years, our federal programs that were created to be safety nets for families have unfortunately become hammocks, ultimately preventing people from achieving their American Dream. This bill is intended to provide individuals with a pathway toward self-sufficiency and opportunity, while still protecting our most vulnerable populations,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud to partner with Secretary Turner on his efforts to help improve the wellbeing of HUD residents and empower families to pursue financial independence.”

The PATH Act would allow for the implementation of work requirements up to 40 hours per week for able-bodied, working-age adults.  The types of eligible work activities are expansive, to suit the needs of individuals with varying circumstances, skills, and backgrounds. These include public or private sector employment, on-the-job training, community and volunteer service, skills, and vocational training, childcare service and educational pursuits, among others. The bill also requires that any PHA or owner implementing a work requirement framework must offer supportive services to assist individuals and families in obtaining an eligible work activity. 

“Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize able-bodied, working-age adults,” said Senator Blackburn. “The PATH Act would boost employment and expand workforce participation among federal housing assistance recipients to help them and their families flourish and achieve the American dream.”

Senator Britt has long championed measures to enable families toward financial independence. This includes leading the Helping More Families Save Act, a bipartisan effort to modernize and expand the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program for low-income families receiving federal housing assistance. This legislation, which passed out of the U.S. Senate, empowers families to build savings without jeopardizing the support they rely on. 

She also leads the Homeless Children and Youth Act, a bill designed to ensure children, youth, and families experiencing dynamic forms of homelessness have access to critical HUD resources and housing services. 

You can read the full text of the bill here.

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