Letter to College and University Presidents Regarding TANF

Eye on Washington

Letter to College and University Presidents Regarding the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Welfare Reform Legislation

June 19, 2002

Dear Colleague:

I am writing on behalf of my colleagues below regarding the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare reform legislation that is being reauthorized this year by Congress. The 1996 law has been praised for reducing state welfare roles. It has also been criticized since poverty is growing nationally and the jobs acquired by TANF recipients tend to be low-paying positions that do little to foster economic independence.

TANF includes several features that significantly limit the educational opportunities of welfare recipients. Examples of these provisions include: allowing only vocational education to count towards meeting the mandatory work requirement; limiting the percentage of recipients who can engage in educational activities; restricting the time recipients are allowed to participate in education; and enforcing strict work requirements that make it difficult for recipients to participate in postsecondary education.

We have many suggestions for modifying this legislation that would strengthen its education component. The recommendations we have made include:

Allowing at least 24 months of education and/or training to be counted as an approved work activity;
Including all higher education programs, not just vocational training, in the list of education activities that can count towards a recipient's work requirement;
Eliminating the cap on the percentage of a state's TANF recipients who are able to participate in educational activities; and
Not counting time spent on education and training against a TANF participantís lifetime or consecutive benefit time limits.

The House has already passed a TANF reauthorization, H.R. 4737, which closely parallels the Administrationís proposal. This bill imposes stricter work requirements on welfare recipients, which makes it more difficult than ever to participate in postsecondary and vocational education.

Multiple welfare reform bills are circulating in the Senate, and the Senate Finance Committee is expected to begin work on a reauthorization measure in late June. We believe there is an opportunity to shape the Senate bill to include expanded educational opportunities but college and university leaders in local communities need to be heard on the importance of this issue.

The higher education community has sent letters to both the House and Senate with our specific recommendations for welfare reform:

House letter (April 12, 2002)
http://www.acenet.edu/washington/letters/2002/04april/congress.tanf.cfm
Senate letter (May 23,2002)
http://www.acenet.edu/washington/letters/2002/05may/senate.tanf.cfm

We believe this is an especially appropriate time for campus leaders to contact their respective Senators and relay their support for the provisions that expand educational opportunity for TANF recipients.

Sincerely,
David Ward
President, American Council on Education

On behalf of:
President George Boggs, American Association of Community Colleges
President Constantine Curris, American Association of State Colleges and Universities
President C. Peter Magrath, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
President David Warren, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities