Current Federal Policies | Analysis of Policy Proposals | Workforce Research Analysis of Policy Proposals Senate "Tri-Partisan" Welfare Plan Unveiled On May 2nd, a group of Senate Finance Committee members including Democrats, Republicans, and the Senate's Independent member, released a plan to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Led by John Breaux (D-LA), the group of Senators includes: Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Jim Jeffords (I-VT). This "tri-partisan" plan could be the primary vehicle discussed in the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over TANF in the Senate. Expanding education and training opportunities remains a primary component of this plan, which will be an important counterpoint to the House Republican plan, which is likely to come to the House floor next week. In terms of education and training, the plan: Counts vocational education as an allowed work activity for 24 months (the current limit is 12 months). Removes teen parents from counting towards the 30 percent cap on the number of recipients who can be engaged in education and training activities and count towards a state's work participation rate. Counts Adult Basic Education as a permissible work activity for up to six months Maintains current law on other existing permissible work activities. Replaces the current TANF caseload reduction credit with an employment credit that rewards states for moving those leaving TANF for employment, gives extra credit for individuals leaving the rolls for employment at wages at least 33 percent of the average wage in the state, and partial credit for those working part-time. Requires states to improve individual responsibility plans so that each family has a specific plan detailing steps and work supports need to move them toward self-sufficiency. The plan also holds the number of hours required for recipients to work at current law of 30 hours, but increases the number of work-focused hours to 24 from 20 (but allows mothers with children under age six to be deemed as meeting the full work requirement at 20 hours), and raises the work participation rate to 70 percent (like the Bush and House Republican plans). The plan also maintains current block grant funding and current time limits. For additional provisions, please visit http://www.senate.gov/~breaux/releases/2002507655.html. Increasing the 12-month limit on training and eliminating the 30 percent cap on the percentage of a state's recipients that can be engaged in training activities are core elements of the Workforce Alliance's TANF reauthorization platform. The tri-partisan proposal takes a strong step in the right direction towards increasing education and training opportunities for TANF recipients.