Government Relations Action Alert: Welfare Redux

Immediate Contacts Needed with Members of U.S. House of Representatives: Vote on Welfare Bill Possible before Valentine’s Day!

February 5, 2003

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Here we go again . . . the House of Representatives is moving at blinding speed to pass the President’s plan to reauthorize the 1996 welfare law.  Rather then take the time to review how well the President’s proposal will work in a much-changed economic environment (higher unemployment, the highest state budget deficits since World War II), Republican leaders plan to completely by-pass normal committee consideration and take the bill directly to the House floor.  The leadership hopes to pass the bill prior to the Presidents’ Day congressional recess, scheduled to begin Friday, February 14.   

This year’s bill, the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2003 (H.R. 4), was introduced yesterday by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce (OH) and is nearly identical to the bill passed by the House last May. Like last year’s bill, H.R. 4:   

• increases the number of hours of participation to 40 per week
• increases work participation rates to 70 percent
• narrows the definition of what counts as work
• limits access to education and training
• provides federal funding for marriage promotion activities
• fails to adequately address the need for additional child care funding
• assumes people with disabilities and other barriers to work can overcome those barriers within three months
• fails to require quality assessments and case management by qualified professionals
• fails to restore immigrant eligibility for benefits in TANF, Medicaid, or SCHIP
• maintains block grant funding at $16.5 billion per year
• grants states “superwaiver” authority to eliminate or modify provisions in a wide range of federal programs

QUICK ACTION NEEDED

Please CALL, SEND AN EMAIL, or FAX A LETTER to your Representative TODAY and urge him/her to vote “NO” on H.R. 4.

We are under no illusion that we can actually stop the bill from passing, but it is critical that we maximize the number of Representatives who vote “no.”  The bigger the “no” vote, the more leverage we will have during final negotiations with the Senate, which is expected to pass a somewhat more moderate bill. 

We hope to come close to last year’s vote, which was 229-197.  Fourteen Democrats voted “Yes.”  Four Republicans voted “No.”

Of particular importance are the moderates on both the Republican and Democratic sides and the new Members of Congress who will be considering the bill for the first time – with almost no time for review.  Those key members are listed below.     

Since time is short, making a phone call is likely to be the most effective method of contact.  However, you may also visit NASW’s web site and send an email or download and fax a letter through CongressWeb at http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp.  If you make a phone call, please let us know at advocacy@naswdc.org.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

SAMPLE PHONE MESSAGE

All congressional offices can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121.  Once you reach the Representative’s office, ask to speak to the staffer who handles welfare.  Feel free to modify the message based on your personal experience, research, or state or local information.   

“I am a constituent, professional social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers calling from (city of residence) to urge Representative (last name) to vote “no” on H.R. 4 – the welfare bill.  The bill is poorly designed to increase child well-being, especially during this current economic slowdown.  If passed, H.R. 4 would:

• force (your state) to spend its scarce resources on a one-size-fits-all approach found to be ineffective in moving families into jobs, sustaining them in jobs, and helping them move up the economic ladder. 

As a social worker, I believe that Representative (last name) should instead support a proposal that:

• increases access to education and training;
• provides additional assistance to families with significant barriers, such as substance abuse and mental illness, so they have a realistic chance of moving into the workforce;
• addresses the disparate treatment and outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities; and 
• assists states in developing a more stable and professional welfare workforce. 

Again, I urge the Congressman(woman) to show his/her support for low-income families by voting “NO” on H.R. 4.  Thank you.” 

MODERATES AND NEW HOUSE MEMBERS

Moderates: How they voted on last year’s welfare bill.

New House Members:

For more information, please visit http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/welfare/default.asp

AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!