Max Baucus: “today, I am introducing the American Indian Welfare Reform Act of 2002, an important step in improving the lives of this…”

“today, I am introducing the American Indian Welfare Reform Act of 2002, an important step in improving the lives of this country's Native Americans. I am glad to be joined by Senators Johnson and Daschle in this effort. In 1996 we enacted a sweeping welfare reform law. It was a long-past-due fundamental change and ended a failed system for helping low-income families in America. I was a strong supporter of that law. This year, we are reauthorizing it. As we in the Finance Committee have reviewed the evidence I have been struck by how successful it has been. The ranks of those dependent on welfare in this country has been reduced by half in just five years. There is more to be done, of course. Child poverty has declined but not by as much as the fall in the welfare caseload, for example. I am at work with my Finance Committee colleague Senator Grassley on comprehensive legislation to renew and improve the 1996 law. One important aspect of the 1996 law which is often overlooked is that it didn't just devolve authority to States, it also permitted Indian tribes to operate their own welfare programs for the first time. The new welfare program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is very flexible. Tribes can take advantage of that flexibility to design culturally-appropriate programs to move people from welfare to work. This is smart policy and is consistent with the important value of tribal sovereignty. I support it.”