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[Page: H1750]  GPO's PDF
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   The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.

   Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we move towards the reauthorization of TANF , and as we look at the whole question, the whole issue of welfare reform, I think there are some principles and concepts and realities and truisms that we need to deal with.

   First of all, we need to understand that in order for people to move from welfare to work, that more education and training is needed and necessary, as opposed to more work requirements.

   The 24-hour direct work-related activity that is proposed is too strict. The only 16-hour non-direct work-related activity does not allow an individual to receive adequate educational or vocational training , and does not allow the ability for adequate job training and education.

   We need to understand, Mr. Speaker, that education is needed for recipients to get off welfare permanently. We need to allow recipients the opportunity of 24 months of job training or vocational training , and 2 years of degree attainment. That is to suggest that they need to be afforded the opportunity to acquire at least an Associate of Arts degree.

   Recipients must compete with the lagging economy and the fact that more college graduates are now stuck in low-paying jobs. We need to understand that recipients need education, education, and education if they are to increase the possibility of moving from welfare to work.

   We need to allow for high school diploma attainment, English language learner classes, and adult basic education, including adult literacy programs. Education and training make a critical difference in employability, earnings, and job retention.

   In 1998, 28 percent of TANF recipients worked for substandard pay while still qualifying for aid. People leaving welfare earn around $6.61 per hour, or from $8,000 to $12,000 a year.

[Time: 19:45]

   More education is obviously needed if they are to earn enough to earn a decent living. Welfare rolls dropped 22 percent between 1995 and 1997. However, poverty among families headed by single mothers dropped only 1 percent. The reality is that the poor are getting poorer. Many must choose between child care and work. We must reduce the extent and severity of poverty and promote self-sufficiency among families if we are doing anything serious about moving people from welfare to work. Child care funding needs to be adjusted for inflation. We must increase Federal funding for the child development funds to meet the needs of all eligible children. And we must invest enough in child care to make a difference. Mothers who work low-wage jobs often do not have benefits to leave work when the child is sick or they work conflicting hours. The annual cost of child care is $4,000 to $6,000 and can rise as high as 10,000. Child care must be an integral part of any effort to move people from poverty, from welfare to work.

   So I urge, Mr. Speaker, that as we move towards reauthorization of TANF we realize what we are trying to do is to move people not from just welfare to work but from poverty to a decent level of living.

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