SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 2071 words

COMMITTEE: HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS

SUBCOMMITTEE: HUMAN RESOURCE

HEADLINE: WELFARE OVERHAUL PROPOSALS

TESTIMONY-BY: REV. NATHAN WILSON,, DIRECTOR OF

AFFILIATION: PUBLIC POLICY, CALL TO RENEWAL

BODY:
... number of former welfare recipients are now working. Yet far too many, especially children, remain in poverty. As the reauthorization of TANF approaches, there are several areas where we urge Congress to focus.

Most importantly, we urge a conceptual shift to view TANF and related programs through the eyes of poverty reduction rather than simply welfare reduction. Too many of those who have moved to work remain ...

... number of self-sufficient families.

We strongly urge that an explicit goal of reducing poverty be made part of the legislative purposes of TANF reauthorization. While there is serious debate and difference about how best to reduce poverty, a genuine bi-partisan commitment to that ...

... foremost in the legislation. The reauthorization priorities should be framed with this in mind.

Our specific recommendations toward that objective include:

1.Fund TANF at adequate levels with increases for inflation. The 1996 Act funded annual block grants to the states at a ...

... significant cut in funding. Reauthorization should at a minimum adjust the grants for inflation, and ideally increase the amount. TANF should allow states to continue to provide assistance to those remaining on welfare along with continuing and expanding the support programs for people ...

... training for child care workers to an increased capacity for specialized needs. The ability for states to spend TANF funds directly on child care should be maintained along with adequately funding the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Minimum ...

... entire family, for example, due to the failure of one member to meet a requirement should not occur.

4. Restore TANF and other benefits to legal immigrants. Immigrants legally in the United States following the 1996 law are ineligible for most forms of assistance. New legislation should reinstate eligibility for legal immigrants to major assistance programs, particularly TANF benefits, food stamps and Medicaid. Many legal immigrants in the country today work hard and pay taxes, and should be entitled to ...

... Many of those still on welfare rolls face barriers to employment, including domestic violence, substance abuse, or mental illness and disability. States should be required to develop and fund programs that assist people in overcoming these barriers.

6.Programs to strengthen marriage. Our personal ...

... religious activities must be kept separate, so that public funding is for public purposes.

In closing, in addition to TANF, we also urge Congress to support working families by:

1.Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC has been one of the most ...

... promoting individual responsibility for all our people are biblically rooted and morally compelling goals. We urge the Committee to approach the issue of TANF reauthorization with that clarity of purpose. We look forward to a continuing dialogue with you, and stand ready to assist in whatever ways we can. ...