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ROCKEFELLER, TRIPARTISAN COALITION OF SENATORS, UNVEIL PRINCIPLES FOR WELFARE REFORM LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), joined by a tripartisan coalition of Senators, today unveiled a framework for reauthorizing the successful 1996 welfare reform legislation. At a Capitol Hill news conference, the coalition of Finance Committee members, including Rockefeller, and Senators John Breaux (D-LA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Jim Jeffords (I-VT), outlined an agreement that emphasizes the importance of work, the necessity of child care, and the flexibility the states need to move people off of welfare and into jobs.

"Our package strikes a critical balance. It reinforces the importance of work in moving all Americans toward the path to self-sufficiency. And it recognizes that this goal is unattainable unless there is safe, affordable, quality child care services for all families. The bottom line is that this framework has the flexibility the states need to help them achieve this goal," Rockefeller said.

The fundamental principles agreed to by the coalition include:

• Increasing work requirements from 20 to 24 hours per week, plus at least 6 hours of training and other support programs for a total of 30 hours;
• Increasing statewide work participation rates from 50 to 70 percent by 2007;
• Providing full funding for child care needed to meet the new work requirements; and
• Giving states additional flexibility to use carried-over funds and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for "transportation-for-jobs" or "reverse commute" programs.

Rockefeller continued, "The key to continued success on welfare reform is providing flexibility to states to run innovative programs, and providing full funding for child care. In order for parents to fulfill their work requirements and provide a better life for their families, it is absolutely essential that we support affordable, quality child care."

Rockefeller, discussing the potential need for additional child care funding, said, "The agreement we have reached today includes an ironclad commitment to making child care available for all those who move from welfare from work. We are awaiting final figures from CBO, but we know it will be billions of dollars, and we are committed to fighting for that funding."

"Increasing the funding for child care is absolutely critical if we expect parents to work. In my state and most states, child care for a toddler costs more than tuition at a public college. Parents who are moving from welfare to work often start at the lower end of the career ladder. They must have child care to make it, and they can’t afford it without our help."

With the passage of the 1996 Welfare Reform legislation, Congress was able to shift the welfare system from a life-long program to temporary assistance that help Americans get jobs and become self-sufficient. The guidelines introduced today are intended to build on the success of the original legislation and aid even more families in moving from welfare to work.

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