Letter to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Regarding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) July 9, 2002 The Honorable Olympia Snowe United States Senate 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Snowe: On behalf of the American Council on Education and the undersigned organizations, I write to thank you for your leadership in crafting a welfare reform bill that will truly help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients to develop the skills necessary for sustainable employment. We recognize the special efforts of those who, in the spirit of bipartisanship, ensured that expanded educational opportunities would be included in the reauthorization of this vital legislation and are especially grateful for your "Parents As Scholars" amendment. The higher education community believes that one of the surest ways to economic security and self-sufficiency for TANF recipients is through higher education. This belief was demonstrated by the findings of your Parents As Scholars program in Maine, and the overwhelming benefit welfare recipients gained from postsecondary education. The current TANF statute, and the House-approved version, includes several features that significantly limit the educational opportunities of welfare recipients. Therefore we must count on the Senate to renew this measure in such a way that it can promote self-sufficiency among the millions of welfare recipients across the country. We appreciate your leadership and commitment to TANF recipients and their attainment of the education necessary for economic independence, and look forward to working with you as this measure goes to the Senate floor. 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 National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education National Association of College and University Business Officers National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators State Public Interest Research Group United States Student Association

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