[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TANF REAUTHORIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2002

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, in the past several weeks we have heard a 
lot of talk about TANF reauthorization. The Bush Administration wants 
to increase the number of hours that welfare recipients work to 40. 
Twenty-four hours would have to be in work-related activities, 
activities that do not include education or vocational training.
  But even in the remaining 16 hours, the limits on education and job 
training are severe in the Republican proposals. Recipients can receive 
vocational training, education, or rehabilitation and substance abuse 
treatment for a total of three months in a 24 month period.
  We know that education is one of the main avenues for a person to 
move out of poverty. A year 2000 survey of people who left the welfare 
rolls after 1996 found that only those workers who had at least a two-
year post secondary or vocational degree were able to rise above the 
poverty line.
  Single female heads of households with a high school diploma are 60 
percent more likely to have jobs. That number increases to 95 percent 
when they have an associate's degree.
  We need to focus less on putting people in jobs, and focus more on 
training people for careers with room for advancement. TANF 
Reauthorization should be about reducing poverty, not reducing 
caseloads.

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