Welfare Reform Issue

The Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), enacted in 1996, dramatically overhauled the nation's welfare system. This law transferred much of the responsibility for designing and implementing welfare to the states, which now receive federal money directly to help run their Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) programs. TANF is a fixed block grant to state designed programs of time-limited and work conditioned aid to families with children. The law also permits Indian tribes to operate their own TANF programs.

With the enactment of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the TANF grant program's funding was extended until 2010. The TANF program has experienced great success by providing a "safety net" to people who have a legitimate need for federal assistance. The need for federal assistance has dropped dramatically in the last decade from a historic high of five million families receiving help in the mid-1990's, to less than two million receiving TANF in 2007. Senator Domenici only hopes this trend will continue as more people are using assistance when necessary and with that help, are quickly getting back on their feet.

For more information on the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act, please visit:
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/opa/facts/prwora96.htm

For more information on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, please visit:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opa/facts/tanf.htm

For more information on Welfare Reform, please visit:
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/welfare/wrpack.htm

For more information on Senator Domenici's views and activities on welfore reform, visit our online News Center.

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