[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2053-S2054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Mr. Jeffords):
  S. 327. A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act 
to allow up to 2 months of vocational educational training to be 
counted as a work activity under the temporary assistance to needy 
families program; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by the Senator 
Jeffords in reintroducing legislation that seeks to add an important 
measure of flexibility to a provision of the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families program, TANF, under the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. The legislation we are 
introducing increases from 12 to 24 months the limit on the amount of 
vocational education training that a State can count towards meeting 
its work participation rate.
  Under the pre-1996 Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, 
welfare recipients could participate in post-secondary vocational 
training or community college programs for up to 24 months while 
receiving assistance. While I support TANF's emphasis on moving welfare 
recipients into jobs, I am troubled by the restriction on post-
secondary education training, limiting it to 12 months. Only one year 
of vocational education counts as an approved work activity. The second 
year of post-secondary education study does not.
  The limitation on post-secondary education and training raises a 
number of concerns, not the least of which is whether individuals may 
be forced into low-paying, short-term employment that will lead them 
back onto public assistance because they are unable to support 
themselves or their families. According to recent studies, this is 
exactly what has happened in far too many cases.
  A March 13, 2001, report of the Congressional Research Service, 
indicates that the average hourly wage for these former welfare 
recipients ranged from $5.50 to $8.80 per hour. According to the U.S. 
Census Bureau, the mean earnings of adults with an associate degree are 
20 percent higher than adults who have not achieved such a degree.
  A majority of the Senate has previously voted to make 24 months of 
post-secondary education a permissible work activity under TANF. The 
Levin-Jeffords amendment to the 1997 Reconciliation bill, permitting up 
to 24 months of post-secondary education, received 55 votes--falling 
five votes short of the required procedural vote of 60. I must note the 
efforts of our dear friend and colleague Senator Paul

[[Page S2054]]

Wellstone who was committed to this issue and who subsequently, in 
1998, offered similar legislation as an amendment to the Higher 
Education Act reauthorization, which I cosponsored. The Senate adopted 
his amendment, however, the amendment was dropped during conference 
negotiations.
  In June of last year, Senator Jeffords and I were very pleased that 
our proposal was included in the Senate Finance Committee reported bill 
reauthorizing TANF. It is our hope that the Senate will again act 
favorably and expeditiously on this legislation and that the House will 
support this much-needed state flexibility. We must do what is 
necessary to achieve TANF's intended goal of getting families 
permanently off of welfare and onto self-sufficiency.
  Finally, I would like to share with my colleagues some examples of 
the difference that completion of two years of vocational or community 
college can make. The following are jobs that an individual could 
prepare for in a structured two-year training or community college 
program, including the average starting salary, as provided by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics.

                   AVERAGE STARTING SALARY NATIONWIDE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respiratory Therapist.........................................   $29,700
Occupational Therapy Assistant................................    25,220
Electrician...................................................    24,230
Physical Therapy Assistant....................................    23,590
Computer Support Specialist...................................    22,710
Interior Designer.............................................    21,490
Legal Secretary...............................................    22,360
Food Service Manager..........................................    20,370
------------------------------------------------------------------------

  We must ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to become 
productive and successful members of the workforce. Again, I urge my 
colleagues to act with haste on this legislation. This modification 
will give the states the flexibility they need to improve the economic 
status of families across America.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation Senator 
Jeffords and I are introducing be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 327

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF MONTHS OF VOCATIONAL 
                   EDUCATIONAL TRAINING COUNTED AS A WORK ACTIVITY 
                   UNDER THE TANF PROGRAM.

       Section 407(d)(8) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     607(d)(8)) is amended by striking ``12'' and inserting 
     ``24''.
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