Committee on Ways and Means
 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
June 27, 2002

WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Wally Herger (R-CA) expressed frustration that Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) still has not prioritized reauthorization of welfare reform.

“It’s time for the Senate to act on real welfare reform. Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee approved a bill that promotes more welfare dependence and busts the budget, but at least they acted,” said Mr. Herger, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee. “Yesterday’s comments by Senate Majority Leader Daschle cast doubt on when - if ever - the full Senate will take up a real bill to extend the successful 1996 welfare reforms.”

Washington Post, June 27, 2002

“A spokeswoman for Daschle said he was working to schedule a vote for after Congress's month-long August recess. The 1996 law expires Oct. 1, so Congress must either pass a new version or extend the current one by then.”

Congress Daily, June 27, 2002

“Further ahead, Daschle predicted Wednesday that September would be ‘consumed’ by FY03 appropriations bills and conference reports. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet marked up an FY03 appropriations bill, and Congress has not even passed an FY02 supplemental appropriations bill. ‘So that really comes down to about four weeks in July for us to complete whatever new work we’re going to get done,’ he said.”

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