[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 141]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCING H.R. 240, WELFARE REFORM REAUTHORIZATION BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WALLY HERGER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in 
introducing H.R. 240, the Personal Responsibility, Work and Family 
Promotion Act of 2005. This legislation reauthorizes and strengthens 
the successful welfare reforms begun in the 1996 welfare reform law 
(P.L. 104-193). Joining me introducing this legislation are 
Representatives Pryce, Thomas, Boehner, Barton, Goodlatte, McKeon, 
Bilirakis, DeLay, Shaw, Cantor, English, Camp, Nancy Johnson, Weller, 
Norwood, Joe Wilson and Kline.
  Welfare reform has been a great success in promoting work, ending 
dependence, and reducing poverty. Millions more low-income parents are 
working today instead of depending on welfare, offering brighter 
prospects for their family's future. Since the implementation of 
welfare reform in 1996, welfare caseloads dropped by more than 50 
percent nationwide--leading more than two million families and seven 
million former recipients to rely on themselves, rather than depend on 
a check from the government. More than 1 million children have been 
lifted out of poverty since reform, and poverty rates for black 
children and children living with single mothers reached--and despite 
the 2001 recession still remain near--all time lows. Recent reports 
linked work-based welfare reforms with reduced parental substance abuse 
(http://www.affiliatedsystems.com/newest.htm) and child poverty (http:/
/www.manhattan institute.org/html/cr_44.htm).
  Still, despite this success nearly 2 million families remain 
dependent on welfare for support, and relatively few of those parents 
are working or getting training in skills needed to lift their families 
out of poverty. That needs to improve. Plus too many families break up 
or never form, leaving millions of children and parents at risk of 
welfare dependence in the future.
  H.R. 240 as introduced today will help even more low-income parents 
and families support themselves, including through stepped up efforts 
to strengthen families and support healthy marriages that are the best 
environment for raising children. H.R. 240 would extend TANF and 
related programs through fiscal year 2010, and makes selected changes 
to promote more work and stronger families, including healthy 
marriages.
  In 2002 and 2003, the U.S. House passed earlier versions of this 
legislation. However, since the U.S. Senate failed to pass companion 
legislation, comprehensive welfare reauthorization legislation was not 
signed into law. Instead, the President signed eight short extensions 
of current law, the most recent of which expires on March 31, 2005. 
H.R. 240 as introduced today is an updated version of legislation the 
House passed in 2002 and 2003, which will serve as the basis for 
hearings and other consideration during the early days of the 109th 
Congress.
  I look forward to working together with my Republican and Democrat 
colleagues to craft the best possible welfare reauthorization policy, 
building on the foundation of the current system and the proposals the 
House passed in recent years. We will hold hearings to examine features 
of today's welfare policy that are working, and those that are in need 
of improvement. In tight budget times, it will take all of our efforts 
to ensure that welfare reform continues to be successful. As the 1996 
reforms have proven, however, we can help more parents work, reduce 
dependence on government benefits, cut poverty, and still protect 
taxpayers' interests at the same time. Before 1996, hardly anyone 
thought we could do all that, and now we have a track record of getting 
it done. We need to build on that successful record, which H.R. 240 
would do.
  I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support 
this important legislation.

                          ____________________