[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 37 (Friday, March 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3370-S3371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 574. A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act 
to toll the 5-year limit for assistance under the temporary assistance 
to needy families program for recipients who live in a State that is 
experiencing significant increases in unemployment; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce legislation, 
the Unemployment Protection for Low-Income Families on TANF Act, or 
UPLIFT Act, that will protect low-income families who are transitioning 
from welfare to work from losing their welfare benefits during periods 
of high unemployment. I want to thank my colleague, Senator Murray, for 
joining me in cosponsoring this important legislation.
  Forcing families off welfare during a recession because they cannot 
find a job lacks commonsense. In fact, during an economic downturn, 
which we are in right now, low-skilled workers and recently employed 
workers are more likely to lose their jobs, and unfortunately, only 30 
to 40 percent of former welfare recipients who become unemployed 
qualify for Unemployment Insurance. Furthermore, there are 1.5 million 
fewer jobs today than there were a year ago, when the economic downturn 
began, making it increasingly difficult for these individuals to find 
employment, particularly full-time employment.
  A single parent receiving welfare assistance while working 30 hours a 
week who loses her job during a recession should not be penalized. For 
families like this, welfare is the only unemployment insurance they 
have. But, under current law, federal welfare time limits and work 
requirements continue to apply during periods of high-unemployment.
  The Unemployment Protection for Low-Income Families through TANF Act, 
or UPLIFT Act, would require states to disregard federal TANF 
assistance for all recipients when the national unemployment rate 
reaches or exceeds 6.5 percent or when a state unemployment rises by 
1.5 percentage points over a three-month period.
  Every percentage point increase in unemployment results in a welfare 
caseload increase of 5 percent. In addition to enacting a strong 
contingency fund for states experiencing high unemployment and 
increased caseloads, Congress must act to ensure that welfare 
recipients are not time-limited off of welfare when the economy is weak 
and jobs are in short supply. In addition to promoting self-
sufficiency, TANF programs should be a safety net for low-income 
families who are unable to find work or meet their needs.
  My legislation will help parents who are trying to transition from 
welfare to work, but are unable to find work during a weak economy, to 
provide for their families without the fear of losing cash assistance. 
The TANF program is not only about moving people from welfare to work, 
it is also about reducing poverty and helping families in need.
  While welfare reform has succeeded at moving thousands of people into 
work, its success has come in strong economic times. As people reach 
their 5-year time limits, we can only hope they will be able to find 
jobs in what is now a more difficult economy. The reality is that many 
states are experiencing high unemployment right now, making it 
extremely difficult for welfare recipients to find good paying full-
time jobs. We shouldn't penalize people who are trying to transition 
from welfare to work just because the economy is bad. We need to 
continue to help these families build their skills and find employment 
when times are tough.
  As Congress acts to reauthorize the TANF program I ask my colleagues 
to support legislation that will protect families transitioning from 
welfare to work from losing their benefits during a recession.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 574

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Unemployment Protection for 
     Low-Income Families on TANF Act of 2003'' or the ``UPLIFT Act 
     of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DISREGARD OF MONTHS OF ASSISTANCE RECEIVED DURING 
                   PERIODS OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 408(a)(7) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 608(a)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(H) Disregard of assistance received during periods of 
     high unemployment.--
       ``(i) In general.--In determining the number of months for 
     which an adult has received assistance under a State or 
     tribal program funded under this part, the State or tribe 
     shall disregard any month in which the State is determined to 
     be a high unemployment State for that month.
       ``(ii) Definition of high unemployment state.--For purposes 
     of clause (i), a State shall be considered to be a high 
     unemployment State for a month if it satisfies either of the 
     following criteria:

       ``(I) State rate of unemployment.--The average--

       ``(aa) rate of total unemployment (seasonally adjusted) in 
     the State for the period consisting of the most recent 3 
     months for which data are available has increased by the 
     lesser of 1.5 percentage points or by 50 percent over the 
     corresponding 3-month period in either of the 2 most recent 
     preceding fiscal years; or

[[Page S3371]]

       ``(bb) insured unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in 
     the State for the most recent 3 months for which data are 
     available has increased by 1 percentage point over the 
     corresponding 3-month period in either of the 2 most recent 
     preceding fiscal years.

       ``(II) National rate of unemployment.--The average rate of 
     total unemployment (seasonally adjusted) for all States for 
     the period consisting of the most recent 3 months for which 
     data for all States are published equals or exceeds 6.5 
     percent.

       ``(iii) Duration.--A State that is considered to be a high 
     unemployment State under clause (ii) for a month shall 
     continue to be considered such a State until the rate that 
     was used to meet the definition as a high unemployment State 
     under that clause for the most recently concluded 3-month 
     period for which data are available, falls below the level 
     attained in the 3-month period in which the State first 
     qualified as a high unemployment State under that clause.''.
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