Letter to Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Regarding TANF June 4, 2002 The Honorable Jeff Bingaman United States Senate 703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Bingaman: On behalf of the American Council on Education and the undersigned organizations, I write to thank you for your leadership in introducing the Education Works Act of 2002. Your bill would help millions of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients across the country to achieve the postsecondary education necessary to enhance their skills and secure economic independence. The higher education community strongly believes that the surest way to economic security and self-sufficiency for TANF beneficiaries is through the education provisions included in your bill. While the current TANF program includes several provisions that significantly limit the educational opportunities of welfare recipients, your bill addresses our most significant interests, including: Increase the amount of education/training that can be counted as an approved "work" activity; Encourage participation in all postsecondary education programs, not just vocational education; Eliminate the cap on the number of recipients able to participate in educational activities; Eliminate the 12-month cap on participation in educational activities; and Prohibit time spent on education and training from counting against participants' lifetime or consecutive benefit time limits. We appreciate your continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities for welfare recipients, and look forward to working with you to help welfare recipients gain the education they need to become economically independent. Sincerely, David Ward President, American Council on Education On behalf of: American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers American Association of Community Colleges American Association of State Colleges and Universities American Council on Education Association of Community College Trustees Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Council for Opportunity in Education National Association of College and University Business Officers National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators United States Student Association

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