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John Ashcroft on Welfare & Poverty
Former Attorney General; Former Republican Senator (MO)
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Allow states to contract with charitable organizations
Major Accomplishments in the U.S. Senate: WELFARE- Helped author comprehensive welfare reform that has reduced the national welfare rolls by 50% since 1997. (P.L. 104-193, 1996)
- Authored the Charitable Choice provision of the landmark
1996 welfare reform law, allowing states to contract with charitable organizations and faith-based charities to provide social and community services. (P.L. 104-193, 1996)
Source: JohnAshcroft.org, campaign web site
, Nov 7, 2000
Charitable Choice helps break cycle of poverty
Q. The United States has the highest rate of child poverty of any major Western industrialized nation. There are 13.5 million American children living in poverty. What specific plans do you have to reduce child poverty in America? A. I worked in
Congress to pass historic welfare reform legislation which gives states greater flexibility to design and implement welfare programs that help individuals break free from the cycle of poverty and move from dependence to independence.
As a result, welfare rolls have been reduced by 45%. We should continue to look for ways to help families with children escape poverty, such as inviting the participation of charitable and faith-based organizations to assist poor children. This
initiative, known as “charitable choice,” was a provision I authored in the 1996 welfare reform law that has been very successful in reaching impoverished children.
Source: National Association of Children’s Hospitals survey
, Sep 9, 2000
Voted YES on welfare block grants.
Replacement of federal welfare guarantee with block grants to the states.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)78; N)21; NV)1
Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 3734;
Bill H.R. 3734
; vote number 1996-262
on Aug 1, 1996
Voted NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps.
Vote to not allow states the option of getting food stamp funds as a block grant administered by the state, rather than as a federal program, if they meet certain criteria.
Reference:
Bill S 1956
; vote number 1996-218
on Jul 23, 1996
Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers.
Vote on a procedural motion to allow consideration of an amendment to express the Sense of Congress that the president should approve the waivers requested by states that want to implement welfare reform.
Reference:
Bill S.1956
; vote number 1996-208
on Jul 19, 1996
Voted YES on welfare overhaul.
Approval of an overhaul on the federal welfare system.
Status: Bill Passed Y)87; N)12; NV)1
Reference: Contract w/ America (Welfare Refm);
Bill H.R. 4
; vote number 1995-443
on Sep 19, 1995
Page last updated: Sep 28, 2018