I am concerned about many proposed changes to the TANF program, and I am a cosponsor of legislation sponsored by Rep. Ben Cardin that provides more opportunities for TANF recipients to rise out of poverty.  On May 16, 2002, the House passed the Welfare Reform Act, H.R. 4737, by a vote of 229-197.  I opposed the bill because it would have weakened state TANF programs and adversely affected children and families.  

For instance, the bill focuses on placing welfare recipients into "make-work" activities instead of productive, wage-paying employment.  I believe the success of TANF should not be measured not by the number of people leaving the welfare rolls, but by the number of people the program helps move out of poverty.  The Republican bill would reduce the states' discretion in supporting recipients as they move toward self-sufficiency.  It would also raises work requirements without providing additional funding for childcare coverage.  This is especially devastating for states like North Carolina, where the waiting list for childcare is so lengthy that many families do not even bother applying for assistance.  

The Republican TANF bill would also establish a new "superwaiver" authority, not limited to just TANF assistance, that would allow the executive branch to waive federal requirements governing a wide variety of domestic assistance programs, including the Food Stamp program, child care assistance, job training programs, adult education programs, homeless assistance programs, and public housing.  Such authority would undermine our social services safety net and would render meaningless the past work of the Congress to provide assistance to individuals and families in need. 

During consideration of H.R. 4737 on the House floor, I voted in favor of a Democratic substitute based on the Cardin bill that would have helped parents and children by increasing TANF funding and adjusting this funding in future years to reflect inflation.  It would have provided funding for childcare assistance, as well as education, training, and other work supports. 

Since House approval, The Senate Finance Committee has approved another version of the bill – one that increases both work participation and childcare funding and contains no “superwaiver” provisions.  There’s no word yet on when the full Senate will consider the bill, but feel free to check this website for updated information.