Jerry Nadler: “today I would like to ask my colleagues just one question. As we consider reauthorizing our Nation's welfare program…”

“today I would like to ask my colleagues just one question. As we consider reauthorizing our Nation's welfare program, what do we want to accomplish, a temporary fix, or a comprehensive solution to poverty? If we truly want a comprehensive solution, we would allow TANF recipients to count education as a work activity so that they can move into living-wage jobs and not end up back on TANF 6 months after they leave. If we want a comprehensive solution, we would invest in quality child care so parents could go to work to ensure their children will be safe in a nurturing environment that is preparing them for success in school and beyond. If we want a comprehensive solution, we would recognize the typical immigrant worker pays $80,000 more in taxes than they receive in government benefits over a lifetime, and we would restore the safety net for them. We would do all of this if we wanted a comprehensive solution. But the Republican proposal does not embody this common sense. What is in their bills is a program that sets low-income people up for failure. Dead-end workfare jobs with no opportunity to pursue further education and escape is a vicious cycle of poverty. I challenge my colleagues to make good their election year pledges to help America's working families and make these improvements in TANF this year.”