Resolution
on Welfare Reform Reauthorization
#RS02-196
Whereas The
United States Congress must reauthorize the 1996 Welfare Reform legislation
that sought to "end welfare as we know it" and that mandated a "work first"
policy limiting the educational options for people receiving public assistance;
and
Whereas The 1996 legislation limited the amount
of time people could receive training for employment before losing public
assistance; and
Whereas The 1996 legislation mandated that people receiving
public assistance start paid work after a minimal time, and increase their
working hours to 32 hours a week over an 18 month period; and
Whereas Current research demonstrates that the "work first"
policy has reduced the numbers of people receiving public assistance since
1996 without decreasing the poverty rates among those same people; and
Whereas Research consistently indicates that the most
significant gains in income are made by those who persist to a college degree;
and
Whereas The availability of affordable
child care is a critical determining factor in persistence to completion of
education for people with children; and
Whereas Current
legislative proposals before Congress would make education even more difficult
to obtain for people receiving public assistance, increase the work mandate
from 32 hours to 40 hours a week, and make significantly fewer child care
options available for people receiving public assistance; therefore be
it
Resolved
That the Academic Senate at
·"stop
the clock" -- extend the federal time limits for people seeking education
and training;
·count
education and homework time as approved work time;
·decrease
the number of work hours required for the receipt of public assistance,
and increase the community service options for that work;
·include
the four-year college option as an authorized choice available to people
receiving public assistance;
·restate
that the avowed purpose of Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) is “to
end child and family poverty.”
***APPROVED
UNANIMOUSLY WITH APPLAUSE