Louise Slaughter: “in 1996 a sweeping welfare reform initiative was enacted and authorized for 5 years. Temporary assistance to needy…”

“in 1996 a sweeping welfare reform initiative was enacted and authorized for 5 years. Temporary assistance to needy families replaced guaranteed welfare checks with a new work requirement, placed a lifetime limit on the benefits recipients could receive, and removed most legal immigrants from eligibility for welfare. The program was up for reauthorization last year. The reauthorization legislation passed the House with a rule that allowed only one substitute amendment. The bill was reported out of the Senate Finance Committee, but was never considered by the full Senate. We are here today to consider the rule for the Personal Responsibility, Work and Family Protection Act of 2003. Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill impacts millions of vulnerable Americans, yet the process for consideration of the bill has muzzled meaningful debate and barred serious consideration of alternatives and amendments. In the 108th Congress, not a single committee with jurisdiction over this legislation has considered H.R. 4. Five committees had jurisdiction over the legislation: Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Agriculture and Financial Services. There are over 50 new Members of Congress, not here in the 107th Congress when we began the process, and none of them have had the opportunity to consider and vote on the legislation in committee. The Republican leadership rushed welfare reauthorization to the House floor.”