Roe Votes to Preserve Welfare Work Requirement

Statement

Today, Congressman Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01) released the following statement in support of H.J. Res 118, a resolution expressing Congress's disapproval of the Obama administration's attempt to waive the work requirement for welfare included in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program:

"This resolution will express Congress's disapproval of the Obama administration's attempt at weakening bipartisan welfare reform and prevent the administration from implementing their plan to waive the work requirements of the current welfare law.

"Sixteen years ago, a Republican-led Congress worked with President Clinton to fix a broken welfare system. The bipartisan law that resulted replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program and established the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program. This law required individuals to work, prepare for work or look for work as a condition of receiving public assistance. Since then, the number of individuals receiving welfare has dropped 57 percent. The poverty level among single mothers fell by 30 percent, while their income and earnings increased significantly. Poverty levels among young African Americans dropped to its lowest level since 2001.

"More than 80% of Americans support the work requirements that came through welfare reform, and this legislation ensures the hard work of the 104th Congress and President Clinton isn't weakened by the Obama administration."

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