August 2002 / Pre-Labor Day Action Alert on Legislation Regarding Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)

The upcoming Labor Day weekend provides a perfect opportunity to make your views on TANF reauthorization known to your Senators. Congress is in recess for the entire month of August, and most Senators (especially those running for reelection) are in their states campaigning and meeting with constituents. They will be participating in Labor Day parades and other public events. They will also be reading local newspapers and listening to radio and television.

Please use this opportunity to contact your Senators and urge them:

• To encourage Senate leaders to schedule a vote on TANF in September;

• To support increased funding for child care; and

• To support the Senate Finance Committee’s bill, especially the provisions that would: 

-- maintain the current work requirement of 30 hours per week;

-- expand the list of acceptable education and training programs;

-- give states the option to count participation in vocational and post-secondary education as compliance with the work requirement. This provision by Sen. Snowe builds on Maine’s successful Parents as Scholars program. Graduates of that program leave TANF for employment, earn 50% more than other TANF leavers, and have stable jobs with benefits;

-- replace the current caseload reduction credit with an employment credit based on the number of families employed after leaving TANF. This provision by Sen. Lincoln gives states an incentive to help TANF recipients become employable and retain jobs;

-- continue Transitional Medicaid for five years;

-- give states the option to provide TANF and Medicaid benefits for legal immigrants, although we would prefer full restoration of benefits;

-- allow states to provide supplemental housing benefits to low-income working families without triggering time-limit requirements and authorize a demonstration grant for housing with services for families with multiple barriers to work; and

-- permit states to exempt a small proportion of their caseload from work requirements in cases where caring for a disabled child makes it impossible for a parent to work.    

There are a number of ways to communicate with your Senators, including the following:

• Call or visit their state offices (you can find their state contact information on their web pages at http:/www.senate.gov);

• Write or fax their state offices;

• Learn where they are holding gatherings with constituents and attend (ask a question about TANF if there is an opportunity for dialogue);

• Write a letter to the editor of your local paper, or send an op-ed piece to the paper regarding TANF (illustrating it with local facts or stories, if possible);

• Find out if your Senator is going to be on a local radio program and call in a question;

• Attend candidate forums if there is a Senate campaign in your state and make a comment or ask a question from the floor about TANF;

• Ask your congregation to participate in a letter-writing campaign or a petition drive to your Senators, describing the need for TANF improvement and reauthorization this year.

When they return to work in September, Senators will have only about 20 work days left in this session of Congress (probably less, since they seldom meet on Fridays, and there are religious holidays in September that will cause them to recess early). A great many pieces of major legislation remain to be dealt with, including most of the appropriations bills essential for the continued operation of the government. It is entirely possible that TANF could get lost in the process. Sen. Daschle has indicated that he wants to have a vote but will not do so if it appears that a lengthy debate will be needed, since there is too much business to do and not enough time to do it. It is possible that Congress will reconvene in a “lame duck” session for a few days after the elections to finish up on appropriations, but they probably would not take up the TANF debate then.

If TANF reauthorization is not completed this year, Congress will probably reauthorize the current program for one year in order to keep the funds flowing to the states. It would then start over on the reauthorization process next year, with new hearings and new legislation to amend the current program.

The primary concern about allowing this to happen is that pressure on the federal budget is expected to be greater next year than it is now, and the likelihood of making changes that involve more funding (such as increasing the child care supply) would be diminished. In addition, states need to know what the requirements of the program are going to be as far in advance as possible so that they can make necessary or permitted changes and train staff to implement them. Also, since welfare roles have begun to rise again in most states because of the weakened economy and high unemployment, it is possible that Congress next year will be in a punitive mood, seeking more ways to make states cut their caseloads.

Senators have a heavy agenda ahead of them in September and it is essential that they hear from constituents how crucial it is to pass TANF reauthorization now, in a form that provides assistance to people in need while at the same time helping them to gain the skills that will allow them to support their families.

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