[The Network] FW: Tell Congress: Don't Block Efforts to Improve TANF!

If you really think you can make a difference, now would be the time to act. Please forward to everyone you know who supports poverty reduction through increased economic opportunity.

 

Thanks very much,

Tracey Stewart, Family Economic Security Program

Colorado Center on Law and Policy

www.cclponline.org

303-573-5669 ext. 314

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From: National Skills Coalition [mailto:info@nationalskillscoalition.com]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 3:51 PM
To: Tracey Stewart
Subject: Tell Congress: Don't Block Efforts to Improve TANF!

 

September 17, 2012     Dear Tracey: Contact your Members of Congress today and ask them to support efforts to improve the employment outcomes for America's most vulnerable populations.  This week, the House of Representatives will vote on legislation that would block Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) efforts to improve employment outcomes for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. National Skills Coalition supports HHS' efforts to strengthen TANF, and urges you to contact your Members of Congress to do the same. On July 12, HHS stated its intent to exercise “waiver authority” for TANF (formerly "welfare"). Under this initiative, states that implement new and innovative programs designed to move more TANF recipients from welfare to work will be approved for “waivers,” which would ease the administrative burden of tracking participation rates. Many of the types of waiver-eligible projects HHS has proposed are ones for which National Skills Coalition has repeatedly advocated. HHS has been clear that this waiver initiative is in no way meant to weaken or unwind the work requirements established in the 1996 welfare reform law. Any state that fails to show improved employment outcomes faces having its waiver revoked.  The HHS waivers are meant to help the states—which will not see TANF reauthorized in this Congress—implement much-needed reforms that will help TANF recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. Please take a moment to send a letter to your Members of Congress urging them not to block the implementation of measures to improve the welfare-to-work outcomes our economy so desperately needs. Click here to TAKE ACTION now!    TAKE ACTION How: Contact your MOCs and ask them to support HHS efforts to improve TANF recipient employment outcomes.  Why: This week's vote in the House of Representatives could block innvoative projects and strategies that may help more TANF recipients go more rapidly from welfare to work.                     National Skills Coalition   1730 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Suite 712, Washington, DC 20036   Phone 202.223.8991   Fax 202.223.8354   info@nationalskillscoalition.org Update your email preferences