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Committee on Ways and Means For Immediate Release Senate Poised to Unravel Gains in Self-Sufficiency and Responsibility on Welfare Reform’s 6th Anniversary WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Majority Staff of the Ways and Means Committee released a detailed analysis of 101 ways in which the Senate bill undermines the successful welfare reform law: by creating numerous exceptions to real work requirements; increasing poverty by promoting more welfare dependence; busting the budget by encouraging more spending; and failing to promote stronger families and marriage. Wally Herger (R-CA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources said, “Our legislation builds on the strengths of the 1996 law, and expects and supports more work and personal responsibility from welfare recipients. This formula has produced historic gains in the past six years, including record declines in poverty and welfare dependence. Why is the Senate intent on undermining the pro-work and anti-dependence reforms that have helped so many parents better support their families?” August 22, 2002 marks the six-year anniversary of the enactment of the historic welfare reform legislation. The landmark 1996 law ended a failed entitlement program that trapped mainly single mothers in poverty for an average of 13 years and actively discouraged the two proven paths out of poverty - work and marriage. In its place, the law created the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program requiring work and placing time limits on Federal cash benefits, while providing States with the flexibility to tailor programs to meet individual and local needs. The results of the law have been astounding: nearly 3 million children have been lifted from poverty; work and earnings among low-income single mothers have gone up significantly; and welfare caseloads have fallen by 9 million recipients from its peak in 1995. The 1996 welfare reforms expire on September 30, 2002, requiring Congress to reauthorize the program. In May, the House passed legislation calling for more work and job preparation by welfare recipients, providing more child care funds, and offering more flexibility so needy parents can get drug treatment and mental health care services they need to lead truly independent lives. While the Senate Finance Committee has approved reauthorization legislation, the full Senate has not yet acted and Majority Leader Daschle has not listed the bill as one of his top ten priorities. Click on the link for a copy of the Ways and Means Committee’s analysis - The 101 Ways the Senate Finance Committee Bill Undermines Welfare Reform. |