[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. OBAMA (for himself and Mr. Bayh):
  S. 2286. A bill to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security 
Act to eliminate the separate work participation rate for 2-parent 
families under the temporary assistance for needy families programs; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the ``Equality 
for Two-Parent Families Act of 2006'' that I am introducing with 
Senator Bayh. When Congress reauthorized the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families program as part of the Spending Reconciliation bill two 
weeks ago, we failed to eliminate a pernicious disincentive to marriage 
that was contained in that bill. The Equality for Two-Parent Families 
Act will correct that unfortunate error.
  Republicans and Democrats often have different ideas about how best 
to promote self sufficiency and economic mobility for low-income 
families. But one thing on which we all can agree is that children are 
better off when they grow up with two responsible parents.
  The evidence shows that, on average, children in two-parent families 
do better in school and are more likely to lead successful, independent 
lives. That is why recent TANF legislation, including the bipartisan 
PRIDE Act in the Senate and H.R. 240 in the House, and Administration 
proposals have recognized that the separate two-parent work 
participation standard, which introduces an anti-marriage bias in TANF, 
should be eliminated.
  Unfortunately, the recent TANF reauthorization failed to reflect this 
long-standing consensus. Instead, the new law compels States to meet an 
unequal work participation standard with their own State-funded 
programs. Whereas States must ensure that 50 percent of their single 
parents satisfy the work requirements, they will be penalized if fewer 
than 90 percent of their two-parent families meet what are even greater 
work requirements.
  As a result, many States, including Illinois which until now has 
successfully served two-parent families in its state program, may now 
face an unfortunate choice: stop serving two-parent families or face a 
penalty. I even heard one welfare official joke that States may be 
better off paying couples to split up in order to avoid possible 
penalties. What kind of incentive is that?
  Requiring States to treat two-parent families differently undermines 
efforts on both the state and federal level to promote and strengthen 
two-parent families. It is especially ironic that the policy is part of 
a bill that includes funding for marriage promotion and fatherhood 
programs.
  The remedy for this contradiction is clear; we must eliminate the 
separate two-parent work participation standard. Senator Bayh and I 
have introduced the ``Equality for Two-Parent Families Act of 2006'' to 
eliminate this standard and rectify the inequity in current TANF 
policy. Our bill does not change two-parent work requirements or 
interfere with State efforts to promote employment and reduce 
caseloads. Instead, our bill reinforces State efforts to support two-
parent families in the ways that they know best.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and join us in 
promoting stronger families. Thank you for your attention to this 
important matter.

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