Ryan Votes for Legislation that Builds on Past Success of Welfare Reform

WASHINGTON – First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted in favor of H.R. 4737 – the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act, which reauthorizes and reforms the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, otherwise known as welfare. This legislation aims to build on the success of the 1996 welfare reform law and help more families on welfare achieve independence. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this legislation by a vote of 229-197.

"I believe that with the improvements we made – particularly the superachiever credit I pushed for – this legislation will work for Wisconsin and the nation overall," Ryan said. "Leading up to this vote, I wanted to make sure that any welfare reform bill would not penalize Wisconsin for its early success in helping people get off welfare. We were able to do this, and ensure that Wisconsin gets credit for its past accomplishments. This will give our state more freedom to pursue successful Wisconsin-based strategies to help families gain independence from welfare."

As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Ryan was able to shape this legislation to benefit Wisconsin and take into account the state’s leadership on this issue. Through his committee work, Ryan secured a provision that was included in the final bill, that gives Wisconsin credit for its long record of success at helping welfare recipients gain self-sufficiency. This provision establishes "superachiever" credit for states – including Wisconsin – that have achieved welfare caseload declines well above the national average since 1995. As a result of this additional credit, Wisconsin is expected to satisfy the new 70 percent work requirement contained in this legislation, regardless of future caseload reductions.

Ryan also fought to strengthen the part of this legislation that provides greater flexibility for states through waivers – the "State Flex" provision. Unfortunately, this part of the legislation was altered and, in effect, diluted just prior to final passage. It still provides flexibility to states through waivers; however, it doesn’t go as far to offer flexibility as the measure that was passed out of the Ways and Means Committee (which would have permitted states to get waivers that allow them to transfer funds between program accounts.) Yet, the waiver provision still gives states the ability to apply for waivers for programmatic changes, including the ability to add educational programs under the definition of "work".

"I am disappointed that – at the last minute – changes were made to the State Flex section of the bill that weaken the waiver portion of this legislation," Ryan said. "Under the bill that passed today, Wisconsin will still get flexibility, but the bill we passed out of committee would have provided even more."