U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) introduced the Preserving the Work Requirement for Welfare Act on Friday, which would prevent the White House from waiving the work-requirement rule within the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The bill is in response to the Obama administration’s previous statements regarding its right to waive the requirement, which has been an element of welfare reform aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty and government dependence.
“Work-force training and education ensure opportunity for our most hard-hit communities,” Reed said. “In fact, a good job is the single most important part of breaking the cycle of poverty. My bill would restore the essential work requirement that provides much needed on-the-job experience to those that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. I care for those who rely on these programs, and I want to see that they have every opportunity to get a hand up. It’s time to reform our safety net so that all Americans have a fair chance to participate in the American Dream. Restoring the work requirement would be that hand up into the work force and opportunity.”
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) threw his support behind the legislation and said, “Moving people from welfare to work is what has made this program a success. Preserving the work requirement — not weakening it — is the least we can do to promote opportunity for those who need it the most. This principle is critical to helping people get back on the payroll and building a healthier economy for all.”
“The successful welfare reforms of the 1990s were predicated on the idea that any American who falls on hard times can get back on their feet if they work for it,” Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), chairman of the House Human Resources Subcommittee. “The TANF program at the heart of those reforms is meant to be a hand up, not a hand out. Preserving work requirements under TANF is important to protect the integrity of these programs and ensure recipients are building the necessary skills and experience to navigate out of poverty.”