Lynn C. Woolsey: “I don't need to remind anyone in this Chamber of the saying that all politics are local. This budget has real effects on…”

“I don't need to remind anyone in this Chamber of the saying that all politics are local. This budget has real effects on the local level, especially in my home State of California. As a former welfare recipient, I am concerned with the increased work requirements to TANF. The Legislative Analyst's Office (California's version of the Congressional Budget Office) has said that the State will not be able to meet these new requirements, costing them $400 million in the first year alone. These requirements undermine the bipartisan work that has been done on the State level to help people get the education they need to obtain a decent paying job. Work requirements without the support of education and child care fail to address the real needs of the working poor. Mr. Speaker, this issue is too important to be buried in a budget conference report. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and give the reauthorization of TANF the careful consideration it deserves.”