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John Cornyn on Welfare & Poverty
Republican Jr Senator (TX)
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Hand-up for citizens, not merely a hand-out
Government must provide a "hand-up" for citizens, not merely a "hand-out." The best gifts government can give to citizens are the ability and skills to improve their own lives.I support the reauthorization of our nation's welfare laws.
We must continue to ensure that the neediest Americans receive assistance in caring for their families while they work to achieve independence.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2014 Texas Senate incumbents
, Oct 25, 2014
Supports work requirement for welfare recipients
As the 1996 Welfare Reform law is renewed this year, John Cornyn will advocate extending several of its most successful parts, especially the work requirement, removal of penalties for marriage, and boosting housing and other assistance initiatives.
Source: 2002 Senate campaign website, www.JohnCornyn.com, “Issues”
, Jun 20, 2002
Voted NO on instituting National Service as a new social invention.
Congressional Summary:Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act: Adds to National and Community Service Act of 1990 (NCSA) purposes:- providing year-round opportunities in service-learning;
- involving program participants in emergency and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery;
- increasing service opportunities for retiring professionals;
- encouraging service by individuals age 55 or older and continued service by national service alumni;
- focusing national service on the areas of national need.
Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Sen. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D, MD): [In developing national service over many years] we were not in the business of creating another new social program. What we were in the business of was creating a new social invention. What do I mean by that? In our country, we are known for our technological inventions. But also often overlooked, and sometimes undervalued, is our social inventions.
We created national service to let young people find opportunity to be of service and also to make an important contribution. But not all was rosy. In 2003, when I was the ranking member on the appropriations subcommittee funding national service, they created a debacle. One of their most colossal errors was that they enrolled over 20,000 volunteers and could not afford to pay for it. That is how sloppy they were in their accounting. I called them the "Enron of nonprofits."
And they worked on it. But all that is history. We are going to expand AmeriCorps activity into specialized corps. One, an education corps; another, a health futures corps; another, a veterans corps; and another called opportunity corps. These are not outside of AmeriCorps. They will be subsets because we find this is where compelling human need is and at the same time offers great opportunity for volunteers to do it.
Opponent's argument to vote No:No senators spoke against the amendment.
Reference: Serve America Act/GIVE Act;
Bill H.R. 1388
; vote number 2009-S115
on Mar 26, 2009
Tax credits to promote home ownership in distressed areas.
Cornyn co-sponsored the Community Development Homeownership Tax Credit Act
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a community homeownership tax credit based upon an applicable percentage of each qualified residence's eligible basis. Makes such credit available to residences (including factory built homes) located:
- in a census tract with a median gross income not exceeding 80 percent of the greater area or statewide median gross income;
- in a rural area;
- on an Indian reservation; or
- in an area of chronic economic distress.
Prohibits a buyer's income from exceeding 80 percent (70 percent for families of less than three) of the area gross median income and requires owner occupancy.
Source: Bill sponsored by 45 Senators 03-S875 on Apr 10, 2003
Page last updated: Dec 25, 2021