Key Votes

HR 4 - Welfare Reform Bill - Key Vote

National Key Votes

Lamar Smith voted Yea (Passage) on this legislation.

Read recent statements Lamar Smith made in this general time period.

Stages

Family

Issues

Stage Details

Legislation - Vetoed (Executive) -
Vetoed by President Bill Clinton

Legislation - Conference Report Adopted (Senate) (52-47) - (Key vote)

Title: Welfare Reform Bill

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that replaces most federal welfare programs with a block grant system for States, among other provisions.

Highlights:
- Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with temporary block grants to states, as long as the State submits documents outlining how it plans to design a program that provides assistance to families, requires one parent to work, and establishes goals to reduce pregnancies in unmarried women. - Increases grants after 2 years for states that decrease the number of out of wedlock pregnancies. - Requires States to increase the percentage of families that must participate in work activities each year. - Discourages States from providing additional assistance to families when a child is born, unless that child is the first born into the family, or in cases of rape of incest. - Bans States from providing assistance to single teenage parents not living in adult-supervised settings, and allows States to assist teenage parents to find a suitable setting. - Requires states to limit aid to 5 years per family, and allows States to exempt up to 15 percent of families because of hardship, or if an individual was battered or suffered extreme cruelty. - Denies assistance for 10 years to any person who has fraudulently misrepresented their address in order to obtain assistance in more than one state. - Denies assistance to fugitive felons and parole and probation violators. - Defines disabled children for the purpose of receiving assistance as an individual under the age of 18 who has a physical or mental impairment which results in severe functional limitations until death or for a duration of at least 12 months. - Allows the Secretary of State to refuse to issue or renew a passport to a parent who owes more than $5,000 in child support payments and allows for mandatory income withholding for child support payments. - Prohibits non-citizen, legal immigrants from receiving public assistance, except for certain benefits such as immunizations and non-cash emergency relief. - Allows states to administer assistance programs through charitable, religious, or non-profit organizations. - Provides grants to states for children that have been abused or neglected. - Allows the Secretary to consider Native American tribes, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands as States for the purposes of this act. - Limits funds to $187.68 billion for food stamp programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2002. - $14.43 billion in grants to states for child protection and payments for foster care and adoption assistance for fiscal years 1997 - 2002. - $9.85 billion in grants to states for child care assistance for fiscal years 1997 - 2002. - $585 million in grants to states for employment and training programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2002.
See The Voting Record

Legislation - Conference Report Adopted (House) (245-178) - (Key vote)

Title: Welfare Reform Bill

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that replaces most federal welfare programs with a block grant system for States, among other provisions.

Highlights:
- Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with temporary block grants to states, as long as the State submits documents outlining how it plans to design a program that provides assistance to families, requires one parent to work, and establishes goals to reduce pregnancies in unmarried women. - Increases grants after 2 years for states that decrease the number of out of wedlock pregnancies. - Requires States to increase the percentage of families that must participate in work activities each year. - Discourages States from providing additional assistance to families when a child is born, unless that child is the first born into the family, or in cases of rape of incest. - Bans States from providing assistance to single teenage parents not living in adult-supervised settings, and allows States to assist teenage parents to find a suitable setting. - Requires states to limit aid to 5 years per family, and allows States to exempt up to 15 percent of families because of hardship, or if an individual was battered or suffered extreme cruelty. - Denies assistance for 10 years to any person who has fraudulently misrepresented their address in order to obtain assistance in more than one state. - Denies assistance to fugitive felons and parole and probation violators. - Defines disabled children for the purpose of receiving assistance as an individual under the age of 18 who has a physical or mental impairment which results in severe functional limitations until death or for a duration of at least 12 months. - Allows the Secretary of State to refuse to issue or renew a passport to a parent who owes more than $5,000 in child support payments and allows for mandatory income withholding for child support payments. - Prohibits non-citizen, legal immigrants from receiving public assistance, except for certain benefits such as immunizations and non-cash emergency relief. - Allows states to administer assistance programs through charitable, religious, or non-profit organizations. - Provides grants to states for children that have been abused or neglected. - Allows the Secretary to consider Native American tribes, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands as States for the purposes of this act. - Limits funds to $187.68 billion for food stamp programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2002. - $14.43 billion in grants to states for child protection and payments for foster care and adoption assistance for fiscal years 1997 - 2002. - $9.85 billion in grants to states for child care assistance for fiscal years 1997 - 2002. - $585 million in grants to states for employment and training programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2002.
See The Voting Record

Legislation - Bill Passed (Senate) (87-12) - (Key vote)

Title: Welfare Reform Bill

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that replaces most federal welfare programs with a block grant system to States, among other provisions.

Highlights:
- Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with block grants to states, as long as the State submits documents outlining how it plans to design a program that provides temporary assistance to families, requires one parent to work, and establishes goals to reduce pregnancies in unmarried women. - Requires States to increase the percentage of families that must participate in work activities each year. - Bans States from providing assistance to single teenage parents not living in adult-supervised settings or attending classes, and allows States to assist teenage parents to find a suitable living arrangement. - Denies assistance to families that do not report their minor child's absence after a 5-day period. - Requires states to limit aid to 5 years per family, and allows States to exempt up to 20 percent of families because of hardship, or if an individual was battered or suffered extreme cruelty. - Allows states to administer assistance programs through charitable, religious, or non-profit organizations. - Denies assistance for 10 years to any person who has fraudulently misrepresented their address in order to obtain assistance in more than one state. - Denies assistance to fugitive felons and parole and probation violators. - Allows the Secretary to administer grants to Native American tribes, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands for family assistance. - Defines disabled children for the purpose of receiving assistance as an individual under the age of 18 who has a physical or mental impairment which results in severe functional limitations until death or for a duration of at least 12 months. - Denies Supplemental Security Income (SSI) assistance to individuals whose handicap is alcoholism or a drug addiction. - Allows the Secretary of State to refuse to issue or renew a passport to a parent who owes more than $5,000 in child support payments. - Encourages states to implement an electronic benefit transfer system where a household is issued a photo identification card to electronically access food stamp benefits. - Allows states to prohibit non-citizens from receiving public assistance, except for certain benefits such as immunizations and non-cash emergency relief. - Provides grants to states for children that have been abused or neglected. - $1 billion in grants to states for child care assistance for fiscal year 1996. - $602 million in grants to states for employment and training programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2002.
Note:

NOTE: THIS IS A SUBSTITUTE BILL, MEANING THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORIGINAL BILL HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE SUBSTITUTE BILL TEXT DIFFERS FROM THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE TEXT CAN VARY GREATLY.

See The Voting Record

Legislation - Bill Passed (House) (234-199) - (Key vote)

Title: Welfare Reform Bill

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that replaces most federal welfare programs with a block grant system to States, among other provisions.

Highlights:
- Replaces the current Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program with block grants to states, as long as the State submits documents outlining how it plans to design a program that provides temporary assistance to families, requires one parent to work, and establishes goals to reduce pregnancies in unmarried women. - Increases grants after 2 years for states that decrease the number of pregnancies in unmarried women. - Prohibits States from giving cash assistance to children of unmarried teenagers, except in cases of rape or incest. - Requires States to increase the percentage of families that must participate in work activities each year. - Prohibits States from providing additional cash assistance to families if another child is born, except in cases of rape or incest. - Denies assistance to families that do not report their minor child's absence after a 5-day period. - Requires states to limit aid to 5 years per family, and allows States to exempt up to 10 percent of families because of hardship, or if an individual was battered or suffered extreme cruelty. - Withholds 15 percent of assistance from families when paternity is not established for at least one child, except in cases of rape or incest. - Denies assistance for 10 years to any person who has fraudulently misrepresented their address in order to obtain assistance in more than one state. - Denies assistance to fugitive felons and parole and probation violators. - Defines a disabled children, for the purpose of receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) assistance, as an individual under the age of 18 who has a physical or mental impairment. - Denies SSI assistance to individuals whose handicap is alcoholism or a drug addiction. - Prohibits non-citizen, legal immigrants and nonimmigrant from receiving public assistance, except for non-cash emergency relief and certain housing related assistants. - Provides grants to states for children who have been abused or neglected. - Encourages states to implement an electronic benefit transfer system where a household is issued a photo identification card to electronically access food stamp benefits. - $36.26 billion in grants to states for school-based nutrition programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2000. - $24.75 billion in grants to states for family nutrition programs for fiscal years 1996 - 2000. - $22.47 billion in grants to states for child protection and payments for foster care and adoption assistance for fiscal years 1996 - 2000. - $10.47 billion in grants to states for child care assistance for fiscal years 1996 - 2000.
See The Voting Record

Legislation - Introduced (House) -

Title: Welfare Reform Bill


Sponsors

  • Steven C. 'Steve' LaTourette (OH - R) (Out Of Office)
  • E. Clay Shaw Jr. (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • James M. 'Jim' Talent (MO - R) (Out Of Office)

Co-sponsors

  • Wayne A. Allard (CO - R) (Out Of Office)
  • William Reynolds 'Bill' Archer (TX - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Richard K. 'Dick' Armey (TX - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Richard Hugh Baker (LA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • William P. 'Bill' Baker (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Cass Ballenger (NC - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert Laurence 'Bob' Barr Jr. (GA - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Roscoe G. Bartlett (MD - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Michael 'Mike' Bilirakis (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Thomas J. 'Tom' Bliley Jr. (VA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Peter I. Blute (MA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Sonny Bono (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Jim Bunning (KY - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Richard M. Burr (NC - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Dan L. Burton (IN - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Herbert L. 'Sonny' Callahan (AL - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Charles T. Canady (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Jon Lynn Christensen (NE - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Dick Chrysler (MI - R) (Out Of Office)
  • William F. Clinger (PA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Thomas Allen 'Tom' Coburn (OK - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Michael Allen 'Mac' Collins (GA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Larry Ed Combest (TX - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Wes Cooley (OR - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Michael D. 'Mike' Crapo (ID - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Frank Arnold Cremeans (OH - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Barbara L. Cubin (WY - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Randall H. 'Duke' Cunningham (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • John T. Doolittle (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert K. 'Bob' Dornan (CA - ) (Out Of Office)
  • David T. Dreier (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Jennifer B. Dunn (WA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert L. 'Bob' Ehrlich Jr. (MD - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Philip 'Phil' English (PA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • John Eric Ensign (NV - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Terry Everett (AL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Thomas W. Ewing (IL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Michael Patrick Flanagan (IL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Mark Foley (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Michael Patrick Forbes (NY - D) (Out Of Office)
  • Tillie K. Fowler (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Jon David Fox (PA - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Daniel 'Dan' Frisa (NY - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Elton W. Gallegly (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Wayne T. Gilchrest (MD - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Benjamin A. Gilman (NY - ) (Out Of Office)
  • William F. 'Bill' Goodling (PA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • James C. 'Jim' Greenwood (PA - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Steven C. 'Steve' Gunderson (WI - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Melton D. 'Mel' Hancock (MO - R) (Out Of Office)
  • J. Dennis 'Denny' Hastert (IL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • John David 'J.D.' Hayworth Jr. (AZ - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Fredrick Kenneth Fred' Heineman (NC - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Walter 'Wally' Herger Jr. (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Van Hilleary (TN - R) (Out Of Office)
  • David Lee 'Dave' Hobson (OH - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Stephen 'Steve' Horn (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • John Nathan Hostettler (IN - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Duncan L. Hunter (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Y. Tim Hutchinson (AR - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert 'Bob' Inglis Sr. (SC - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Ernest J. Istook Jr. (OK - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Joseph K. 'Joe' Knollenberg (MI - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Stephen 'Steve' Largent (OK - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Ron Lewis (KY - R) (Out Of Office)
  • James Ross 'Jim' Lightfoot (IA - ) (Out Of Office)
  • John Linder (GA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert L. 'Bob' Livingston (LA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Bill McCollum (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • James O. 'Jim' McCrery III (LA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Dan Miller (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Susan Molinari (NY - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Suellen W. 'Sue' Myrick (NC - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Charles W. 'Charlie' Norwood Jr. (GA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • James A. 'Jim' Nussle (IA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Ronald C. 'Ron' Packard (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • William 'Bill' Paxon (NY - R) (Out Of Office)
  • George P. Radanovich (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Frank Duncan Riggs (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Charles Patrick 'Pat' Roberts (KS - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Toby Roth (WI - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Marge S. Roukema (NJ - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Matthew 'Matt' Salmon (AZ - ) (Out Of Office)
  • H. James 'Jim' Saxton (NJ - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Andrea Seastrand (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • John B. Shadegg (AZ - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Nick Smith (MI - ) (Out Of Office)
  • Gerald B.H. 'Jerry' Solomon (NY - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Clifford Bundy 'Cliff' Stearns (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Steve Stockman (TX - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert Lee 'Bob' Stump (AZ - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Randy Tate (WA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Charles H. Taylor (NC - R) (Out Of Office)
  • William M. 'Bill' Thomas (CA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Todd Tiahrt (KS - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Robert S. Walker (PA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Zach Wamp (TN - R) (Out Of Office)
  • W. Curtis 'Curt' Weldon (PA - R) (Out Of Office)
  • David Weldon (FL - R) (Out Of Office)
  • Roger F. Wicker (MS - R) (Out Of Office)