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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 07:27:46 -0400
To: aauwnc-list@rtpnet.org
From: Mary A Peterson <mapeterson@nettally.com>
Subject: Legislative Alert/Action needed
I received this legislative alert regarding reauthorization
legislation of
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) this AM from Sorien K.
Schmidt, NC Justice and Community Development Center.
The summary is excellent and the talking points are very
good. I hope you
can contact some of the Senators listed at the end of this message or
contact Senator Edwards office and ask him to share your comments with
the other committee members. Thanks for your help. Mary
________________________________________________________________
Summary:
At 10am on this Wednesday, June 26, the US Senate Finance Committee is
going to vote on its version of legislation to reauthorize the Temporary
Asssistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant and the Child Care and
Development Fund (CCDF) for the next five years. A new Senate
"tri-partisan plan" is on the table that is better than the
House bill but
a long way from what many Senators and we support. This committee will
determine the funding portion of the Senate bill for the next five years.
This committee will also set the tone for debate on other substantive
issues. Call or fax the Finance Committee telling them what needs to be
included in their TANF and CCDF legislation. Also phone or fax NC Senator
John Edwards and ask him to tell Finance Committee members what North
Carolina needs.
Message:
1) State that you are calling about the Reauthorization of TANF and the
Child Care Fund.
2) State your main points, here are some you could make:
A. Funding for child care must be increased by at least $11.25 billion
over the next five years.Please also make the Supplemental TANF grant
permanent and increase the amount.
About 20,000 children are waiting for a child care subsidy in North
Carolina right now. Please also make the Supplemental TANF grant permanent
and increase the amount.
B. TANF and health care benefits for legal immigrants must be restored.
C. Parents caring for sick or disabled children and family members must
be exempted from rigid work requirements.
D. Post-secondary education should be included as part of education and
training and should be allowed to count toward work requirements for at
least 24 months.
North Carolina Work First families are getting jobs, but 70% of them are
earning less than poverty level. It is essential they get more education
and job retraining so they can get better paying work, or find jobs that
pay as well as their old textile and furniture mill jobs that are closing
down.
E. Allow states more flexibility to define work activities to include
activities that help families overcome barriers to employment such as
substance abuse treatment or domestic violence counseling. Oppose any
efforts to increase work hour requirements above 30 hours. The federal
Government should not try to implement a one type of activity fits all
families approach. Increasing hours further restricts states from meeting
the needs of individual clients by leaving less time available services
and programs that meet individual family needs.
F. Keep superwaivers out of TANF.
Congress should not give away its authority to set TANF and CCDF policy
to the administration and states. Congress should set and uphold basic
guidelines for these programs.
FAX OR PHONE THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND SENATOR EDWARDS:
ASK NC SENATOR EDWARDS TO SHARE OUR MESSAGE WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
Senator John Edwards - In Washington D.C. (202) 224-3154 fax (202) 228-1374
ASK SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO DO THE ABOVE THINGS (A-F) WHEN
THEY MARK UP A COMMITTEE BILL ON TANF REAUTHORIZATION
Democrats:
Sen. Max Baucus (Montana) Chairman 202-228-3687 (fax) (202) 224-2651(phone)
Sen. Rockefeller (West Virginia) 202-224-7665 (fax) (202) 224-6472 phone
Sen. Daschle (South Dakota) 202-224-6603 (fax) (202) 224-2321 (phone)
Sen. Breaux (Louisiana) 202-228-2577 (fax) (202) 224-4623(phone)
Sen. Conrad (North Dakota) 202-224-7776 (fax) (202) 224-2043 (phone)
Sen. Graham (Florida) 202-224-2237 (fax) (202) 224-3041(phone)
Sen. Bingaman (New Mexico) 202-224-2852 (fax) (202) 224-5521 (phone)
Sen. Kerry (Massachusetts) 202-224-8525 (fax) (202) 224-2742 (phone)
Sen. Torricelli (New Jersey) 202-224-8567 (fax) (202) 224-3224(phone)
Sen. Lincoln (Arkansas) 202-228-1371 (fax) (202) 224-4843 (phone)
Republicans:
Sen. Grassley (Iowa) 202-224-6020 (fax) (202) 224-3744 (phone)
Sen. Hatch (Utah) 202-224-6331 (fax) (202) 224-5251(phone)
Sen. Murkowski (Alaska) 202-224-5301 (fax) (202) 224-6665 (phone)
Sen. Nickles (Oklahoma) 202-224-6008 (fax) (202) 224-5754(phone)
Sen. Gramm (Texas) 202-228-2856 (fax) (202) 224-2934(phone)
Sen. Lott (Mississippi) 202-224-2262 (fax) (202) 224-6253(phone)
Sen. Thompson (Tennessee) 202-228-3679 (fax) (202) 224-4944(phone)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) 202-224-1946 (fax) (202) 224-5344(phone)
Sen. Kyl (Arizona) 202-224-2207 (fax) (202) 224-4521(phone)
Sen. Thomas (Wyoming) 202-224-1724 (fax) (202) 224-6441(phone)
Independent:
Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vermont) 202-228-0776 (fax) (202) 224-5141 (phone)
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