House Approves Welfare Reauthorization Measure -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 10, Bulletin 3 -- February 14, 2003

On February 13, 2003, the House passed a Welfare reauthorization bill, H.R. 4, by a primarily party-line vote of 230 to 192. The bill is essentially identical to the measure approved by the House in the last legislative session. See, Bulletin, Vol. 9, No. 14 (5/16/02). It also closely resembles the President's proposed welfare plan in that it renews the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant at $16.6 billion per year, proposes tougher work requirements for cash recipients, limits eligible work activities, and authorizes funding for marriage strengthening programs. A motion to recommit the measure led by Democrats failed by a vote of 197 to 221.

The 1996 Public Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) expired on September 30, 2002. Action to renew the landmark welfare reauthorization measure stalled last year after the Senate failed to complete work on its version of the bill, as many of its provisions were inconsistent with the House version and the President's welfare proposal. As a result, Congress extended welfare assistance programs at FY2002 levels via the Continuing Resolutions through March, 2003 (PL 107-294).

H.R. 4, supported by President Bush, increases weekly work requirements to qualify cash recipients for aid from 30 hours per week to 40 hours per week, while gradually boosting States work participation rates from 50 percent to 70 percent by 2008. It also provides $1 billion more for child care programs over five years, less than some advocates had sought.

The bill is now expected to be taken up by the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Charles E. Grassley (IA). In a January 24th statement, Sen. Grassley expressed his commitment to welfare reform as a priority for his Committee, "We won't be able to determine the specific elements of a welfare bill until our committee members have had an opportunity to weigh in. ... My goal is to enact a bipartisan bill as soon as possible."

A recent report examining TANF and federal welfare programs from a California perspective, developed as part of the Federal Formula Grants and California series by the California Institute and the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), is available on the web at http://www.ppic.org/publications/PPIC165/ppic165report3.pdf .

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