HRES 525 EH

Whereas the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193), approved by large bipartisan majorities of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, has delivered dramatic results by promoting record increases in work and earnings among current and former welfare recipients, reducing the number of children in poverty by nearly 3,000,000 and achieving record low rates of child poverty among African-American children and children raised by single mothers, and lifting 3,000,000 families from welfare dependence as part of a decline in national welfare rolls of more than 50 percent;

Whereas despite these unprecedented gains, 2,000,000 low-income families remain dependent on welfare, challenging the Congress to build upon that success by putting even more Americans on the path to self-reliance;

Whereas changes to the law are needed to better promote the creation and maintenance of strong two-parent families, including healthy married families, in order to enhance child and family well-being;

Whereas further changes are needed to improve the quality and availability of child care, since the experiences of young children greatly affect their success in school;

Whereas the House of Representatives, on May 16, 2002, passed H.R. 4737, the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2002, which includes needed enhancements proposed by the President and extends and strengthens reforms for the coming five years;

Whereas H.R. 4737 would provide a total of $170,000,000,000 in Federal and State funds to support work, child care, education, training, and other family needs;

Whereas the Senate has yet to approve legislation to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and Title V Abstinence Education State Block Grant programs as required by September 30, 2002; and

Whereas the failure of the 107th Congress to extend the TANF or child care programs by September 30, 2002, would threaten the opportunities currently available for low-income families and create fiscal uncertainty for States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the 107th Congress should complete action on and present to the President, prior to September 30, 2002, legislation extending and strengthening the successful 1996 welfare reforms.

Attest:

Clerk.

END