[NLA] Urgent Action: Urge NO Vote on House Welfare Bill

[Jon Randall]

ALERT SUMMARY
This Thursday, the House is scheduled to vote on H.R.4, the
Personal Responsibility, Work and Family Promotion Act of
2003 (reauthorization of welfare reform). H.R.4 contains a
super-wavier provision that could severely damage adult
education in many states. Your calls are particularly
important if you live or work in the districts of moderate
or new Members of Congress (see list below).

ACTION NEEDED:
1. If your Congressperson is on the list below, please call
his/her office (Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121)
2. Ask to speak to the person who handles welfare issues.
3. Message ... "VOTE NO ON FINAL PASSAGE OF H.R. 4, the
Republican welfare reauthorization plan. Please support a
Democratic substitute." (This substitute bill is expected to
correct the deficiencies noted below.)
4. Urge other literacy advocates in your program to make
calls too.

Let them know that this welfare plan restricts education and
training opportunities that are crucial in helping TANF
recipients in your state or local area to gain the necessary
skills to help them move from public assistance to
self-sufficiency, and for helping employers in your state or
local area to access a skilled workforce in order to compete
in today's economy.

BACKGROUND
The Republican version of H.R.4 contains the following
detrimental provisions ...
1. Super-waiver ... H.R.4 permits states to redirect adult
education funding to serve ONLY welfare recipients  and
waive "direct and equitable access" in awarding competitive
grants. Welfare recipients accounted for only 9.5% of
learners in all WIA Title II State Grant funded adult
education programs in 2001, according to U.S. Dept. of Ed
statistics.
2. Education and Training ... H.R.4 restricts access to
education and training by limiting the time allowed to
participate in these programs to 4 months out of every 24
months.
3. Legal Immigrants ... H.R.4 fails to restore benefits to
legal immigrants, despite the fact that they work hard, pay
taxes, and proudly serve in our nation's military.
4. Work Requirements ... H.R.4 increases states' work
requirement to 70 percent of the TANF caseload and demands
40 hours of work regardless of families' economic situation,
barriers to work, or need.

PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON IF HE/SHE IS LISTED BELOW

Last year, the House passed a bill very similar to H.R.4 It
died in the Senate. The following moderates voted in favor
of the bill last year. We need them to vote against H.R.4 on
Thursday. (Note of urgency ... Since Republicans control the
Senate this year, we CAN'T count on the Senate to prevent
these provisions from being passed into law.)

AL ... Cramer (D)
CT ... Johnson (R); Shays (R), Simmons (R)
DE ... Castle (R)
FL ... Boyd (D)
IL ... Johnson (R)
KY ... Lucas (D)
MD ... Gilchrest (R)
MN ... Peterson (D)
MS ... Taylor (D)
NJ ... LoBiondo (R)
NY ... Boehlert, (R); Houghton (R)
ND ... Pomeroy (D)
OR ... Wu (D)
PA ... Greenwood (R); Holden (D); Weldon (R)
TN ... Tanner
TX ... Edwards, (D); Hall (D)
WI ... Petri (R)

The following list includes new members of the House of
Representatives. They didn't vote on the bill last year. As
first-term Congresspersons, they very much need to please
their constituents.

AL ... Bonner (R); Davis (D); Rogers (R)
AZ ... Franks (R); Grijalva (D); Renzi (R)
CA ... Cardoza (D); Nunez (R); Sanchez (D)
CO ... Beauprez (R); Musgrave (R)
FL ... Diaz-Balart (R); Feeney (R); Harris (R); Meek (D);
Waite (R)
GA ... Burns (R); Gingrey (R); Majette (D); Marshall (D);
Scott (D)
HI ... Case (D)
IL ... Emanuel (D)
IN ... Chocola (R)
IA ... King (R)
LA ... Alexander (D)
ME ... Michaud (D)
MD ... Ruppersberger (D); Van Hollen (D)
MI ... McCotter (R); Miller (R)
MN ... Kline (R)
NH ... Bradley (R)
NJ ... Garrett (R)
NM ... Pearce (R)
NY ... Bishop (D)
NV ... Porter (R)
NC ... Balance (D); Miller (D)
OK ... Cole (R)
OH ... Ryan (D); Turner (R)
PA ... Gerlach (R); Murphy (R)
SC ... Barrett (R)
SD ... Janklow (R)
TN ... Blackburn (R); Cooper (D); Davis (D)
TX ... Bell (D); Burgess (R); Carter (R); Hensarling (R)
UT... Bishop (R)

#   #   #


Jon Randall
Consultant, Government Relations
ProLiteracy Worldwide
and Public Policy Committee Chair
National Coalition for Literacy
www.natcoalitionliteracy.org

ProLiteracy Worldwide continues to underwrite
the coordination of NCL policy efforts
www.proliteracy.org

FedStrategics, LLC
8413 Park Crest Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 588-5304   Fax: (301) 588-5353
jrandall at FedStrategics.com



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