WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN) today signed on as a cosponsor of the Individual Responsibility Act of 1995.
"When it comes to welfare reform, we need to get tough, but we also need a reform package that makes sense," Peterson said. "The welfare reform plan the Republicans have come up with is too extreme, while the plan that Clinton has released doesn't go far enough. I believe this bill I have co-sponsored deals with the problem in the best way.
"In the Republican plan, unmarried minors simply won't get any welfare help. I think that is going too far. With our legislation, generational dependency is no longer an option. Minor mothers must live with a parent and remain in school in order to receive benefits, and minor fathers must stay in school and work in community service if they can't provide any other type of support. In addition, the bill demands paternal identification at birth in exchange for benefits. The grandparents of the minor child's children would be financially liable for their care.
"This bill gives states the option to eliminate current provisions which penalize AFDC recipients who work. Right now, the AFDC benefit structure brings a drop in AFDC benefits when there is a rise in earnings. As a result, welfare recipients who try to work are only marginally better off than be remaining on welfare. Our proposal would allow states to liberalize the earned-income disregards. The Republican plan doesn't have that option. Also, this plan increases the federal share for child care, while the Republican plan sets child care up in a block grant program.
The Individual Responsibility Act of 1995 also creates a "Work First" program, aimed at moving welfare recipients into the workforce as soon as possible. It imposes a two-year lifetime limit to benefits with an additional option for two years in a Community Service program. The legislation imposes sanctions against those who do not comply with the "Work First" program.
"This legislation also differs from other welfare reform proposals because it gives states more flexibility. States would not be required to establish community service programs. Under the bill, states can drop welfare recipients after two years if they choose. States can also impose a family cap limiting benefit increases to those who have additional children while receiving welfare assistance, and eliminate existing disadvantages for marriage.
"All welfare reform plans, at first, are going to cost more than we are currently spending," Peterson said. "We plan on paying for this one by eliminating all welfare benefits for both illegal and legal aliens. If they cannot support themselves in this country, they will have to return to the country they came from."