[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PROPOSED TANF REAUTHORIZATION

  (Ms. WATSON of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. WATSON of California Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the 
President's proposal to increase TANF work requirements. The proposed 
40-hour work week will cripple the State's ability to continue to move 
TANF recipients out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. It will 
require States to make work.
  Despite recent trends, poverty has grown in my State of California. 
Hispanics and African Americans have higher rates of poverty in 
California than anywhere else in the country. Furthermore, most poor 
families in California are working. Simply working more hours is not 
the solution. Education is.
  Research has shown that welfare recipients who are able to attend 
community college increase their median earnings by 43 percent. More 
than half of the people on welfare in Los Angeles lack a high school 
diploma. Clearly, the educational needs of these people are not being 
met.
  TANF reauthorization needs to address the educational needs of 
welfare recipients. Simply working more hours is not the solution.

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