June 27, 2003, Action Alert: Contacts Needed Re. TANF with Senate Finance Committee

Congress has extended funding for the current TANF program through September 30. It continues to appear that the Senate Finance Committee will begin consideration of TANF reauthorization shortly after the Senate returns on July 7 from its Independence Day recess. If your Senator is one of those listed below, please contact him/her at a home state office in person or by telephone during the recess period. Information on how to reach state offices is available on your Senator’s webpage at www.senate.gov

The members of the Senate Finance Committee are:

Republicans

CHARLES GRASSLEY, IA
ORRIN G. HATCH, UT
DON NICKLES, OK
TRENT LOTT, MS
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, ME
JON KYL, AZ
CRAIG THOMAS, WY
RICK SANTORUM, PA
BILL FRIST, TN
GORDON SMITH, OR
JIM BUNNING, KY

Democrats

MAX BAUCUS, MT
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, WV
TOM DASCHLE, SD
JOHN BREAUX, LA
KENT CONRAD, ND
BOB GRAHAM, FL
JAMES M. JEFFORDS, VT
JEFF BINGAMAN, NM
JOHN F. KERRY, MA
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, AR

The key issues in TANF reauthorization for the Finance Committee are likely to be increasing the work requirement, expanded funding for child care, and allowing states to extend coverage to legal immigrants. There will probably also be a major struggle over what counts as work, particularly in the area of education. Finally, it seems likely that – during the floor debate, if not during the Committee deliberations – efforts will be made to add the "superwaiver" provision that is in the House bill. This would allow states to waive the requirements of a number of programs for low-income people in order to "simplify" administration. While simplification may have its advantages at some points, enactment of this provision could also mean that people could lose the protections provided by current law.

Please urge your Senators to:

-- maintain the current work requirements at 20 hours per week for parents of pre-school children and 30 hours for parents of older children, rejecting the Administration proposal to require 40 hours of work from all TANF parents;

-- expand the education and training opportunities for TANF recipients to include participation in vocational education for up to 24 months (instead of limiting it to three months, as proposed by the Administration) and post-secondary education;

-- substantially increase funding for child care (The House bill provides $1 billion more over five years. The Administration contends that no additional funds are needed. Child advocates support the maximum possible increase, on the grounds that only one eligible low-income child in four now receives a child care subsidy from all government sources combined.)

-- reinstate eligibility for legal immigrants (At a minimum, states should have flexibility to determine whether and how to provide assistance within their own resources);

-- oppose a superwaiver; and

-- give states flexibility to waive or extend time limits for beneficiaries who face multiple barriers to employment.

For more information, contact Mary Cooper, NCC