[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 111 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               INTRODUCING THE ``CHANCE TO SUCCEED ACT``

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 2002

  Mr. STARK . Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Chance to 
Succeed Act.'' This legislation is aimed at helping disabled Americans 
and those struggling with barriers to employment move from welfare to 
work. I'm proud to be joined in this effort by 43 of my colleagues. I'm 
also thankful to Senators Wellstone and Kennedy, who are working to 
pass companion legislation in the Senate.
  Too many Americans find themselves trapped on welfare because of a 
disability. Others are simply ill equipped to overcome very real 
barriers that stand in the way of achieving meaningful employment.
  The ``Chance to Succeed Act'' creates broad new guidelines for states 
to better serve the needs of the disabled and the severely 
disadvantaged. It empowers states to improve employment opportunity for 
welfare recipients with physical and mental disabilities. It also 
addresses other proven barriers to employment, such as a low level of 
education, limited English proficiency, and domestic abuse among 
others.
  A recent General Accounting Office (GAO) study found that welfare 
recipients with disabilities were half as likely to leave the welfare 
rolls compared to recipients without impairments. The same GAO study 
found disabled recipients who did move off welfare were much less 
likely to gain employment.
  An Urban Institute study found that 46 percent of welfare recipients 
that returned to welfare were in poor mental or physical health. The 
same Urban Institute Study found that 38 percent of welfare recipients 
that returned to welfare had less than a high school education. Perhaps 
most disturbing is a Wisconsin Study that found that 30 percent of 
welfare recipients responding to their survey reported that they had 
been fired or lost a job because of domestic abuse.
  My bill provides a framework for states to institute new screening 
and assessment programs that identify and provide specialized services 
to these recipients. It encourages them to create individual ``personal 
responsibility plans'' that outline goals necessary for each recipient 
to obtain stable employment. It also provides funding for state-level 
advisory panels to evaluate and improve these efforts. And it allows 
States to follow through with this process without being penalized 
under current Federal work requirements.
  Some states have already taken steps along these lines. This bill 
continues to give states flexibility to determine how best to meet the 
goals set out in this legislation. This is critical in giving families 
the tools they need to meet the individual challenges they face. By 
making clear that involvement in state programs tailored toward 
employment barriers will be counted as a work activity, states can 
fully follow through in this critical effort.
  Please join me in supporting the ``Chance to Succeed Act'' to provide 
new hope and opportunity to Americans struggling to lift themselves out 
of poverty.

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