Mike Levin: “it was my intent to send an amendment to the desk which would strengthen and accelerate the work requirement that is…”

“it was my intent to send an amendment to the desk which would strengthen and accelerate the work requirement that is contained in this bill. My amendment, in the form of the Levin-Dole amendment, was added to the Senate-passed welfare reform bill last September. I offered it, Senator Dole at that time cosponsored it, and it was adopted. The reason that I offered the amendment then and support this approach now is that I believe work requirements should be clear and should be strong and should be applied promptly. The amendment would add a requirement that welfare recipients either be in job training, be in school, or be working in private-sector jobs within 3 months of the receipt of benefits. That was the heart of the Levin-Dole amendment. If private sector jobs cannot be found, then those recipients would be required to perform community service employment. Community service employment is the backup in the Levin-Dole amendment, in the approach which is essential, and it would be required that somebody engage in that community service within months. This requirement would be phased in to allow States the chance to adjust administratively, and States would be permitted the option to opt out of the requirement by notification to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The bill before us requires welfare recipients to work within 2 years of the receipt of benefits--2 years. The question is, why wait 2 years?”