Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2943, ``The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Extension Act,'' which extends the authorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) state block grant program for three months, through December 31, 2011. Under current law, the program's authorization is set to expire on October 1, 2011, at the end of FY 2011. H.R. 2943 authorizes ``such sums as may be necessary'' to carry out the program at the same level as FY 2011 or $16.48 billion according to CRS and extends funding for the basic block grant, healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood competitive grants, mandatory child care grants, and certain other funds. As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am keenly aware that the youngest among us often suffers the most when programs, like TANF, are underfunded. We must take a proactive role in protecting children from lives of abject poverty. I represent the 18th Congressional district in Houston, Texas. In my district, more than 190,000 people live below the poverty line. Programs like TANF are vital to these families. At a time when the Census Bureau places the number of Americans living in poverty at the highest rate in over 50 years. Across our nation the poverty rate has climbed to 14.3 percent in 2009, the highest level since 1994 and is likely to continue to climb.…”