[NLA] NCL Advocacy re: House Welfare Reform Bill

[Jon Randall]

Yesterday, the following letter was faxed by ProLiteracy, on
behalf of the National Coalition for Literacy, to the
moderate and new Congresspersons listed in the 2/10 alert:

February 12, 2003

The Honorable [full name]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20015

Dear Mr. [last name]:

Provisions in H.R.4 will restrict education and training
opportunities that are crucial in helping TANF recipients
gain the necessary skills to help them move from public
assistance to self-sufficiency, and for helping employers
access a skilled workforce. We urge you to support an
amendment that corrects the following deficiencies:

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 issuing 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 the U.S. Dept. of Education.
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 help pass a bill that ensures that TANF recipients
with low literacy skills have the educational opportunities
they need to get off public assistance.

Sincerely,

Marsha L. Tait
Chair

Note: The NCL letterhead lists 36 literacy organization
voting members, all of which have a national scope.

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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