Washington, Feb 6, 2003 - Today, the Republican Leadership of the House announced their intention to bring legislation to reauthorize the Temporary Access to Needy Families Act (TANF) directly to the House floor, next Thursday, bypassing the Committee process and railroading debate.

In recent published reports, House Leadership has indicated that Welfare Reform has been a “huge success” and that the future is bright. This assertion could not be further from the truth. The facts are that in the last two years, measures of unemployment, poverty, TANF caseloads, state spending on TANF services and requests for social services have all increased.

The facts are clear, and if the House continues down its current path, the future will not be bright. Currently, 42 states are facing budget deficits and unemployment recently hit an eight year high. As a direct result of these economic conditions, 19 states have made cuts in TANF services and more expected.

It is clear that the House Leadership intends to railroad debate on this vital bill, which reauthorizes TANF for five years, so economic facts don’t influence TANF reauthorization.

“This recession shows that TANF programs aren’t working and they need to be improved,” stated Kucinich. “It is indefensible for Congress to rush to reauthorize a law for the next five years that does not address current and future economic conditions. I hope the leadership of the House will view the debate in light of this new data.”

Kucinich, a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, was joined last week by 10 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Speaker and key committee chairmen requesting that full hearings beheld on legislation to reauthorize TANF.