George Nethercutt on Welfare & Poverty

Former Republican Rep (WA-5); 2004 former Senate challenger

Encourage self-sufficiency

In 1996 I supported the passage of major welfare reform, H.R. 3734, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act. The act established a $16.4 billion annual Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to the states that has replaced existing welfare programs. Welfare reform has been long overdue in this country, and I believe this law has been a fair way to reach sensible reform and encourage a return to self-sufficiency. Source: House website, www.house.gov/nethercutt Feb 26, 2004

Voted YES on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients.

Welfare Reauthorization Bill: Vote to pass a bill that would approve $16.5 billion to renew the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant program through fiscal 2008 and call for new welfare aid conditions. The bill raises the work requirements for individuals getting assistance from 30 to 40 hours per week. States would be required to increase the number of recipient families working from the current level of 50 percent to 70 percent or more in 2008. The bill also provides an additional $1 billion in mandatory state child care grants and provides $200 million annually for marriage promotion programs. Reference: Bill sponsored by Pryce, R-OH; Bill HR 4 ; vote number 2003-30 on Feb 13, 2003

Voted YES on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

Vote to pass a bill that would allow religious organizations to compete equally with other non-governmental groups for federal funds to provide social service, and provide $13.3 billion in tax breaks for charitable giving over 10 years. Bill HR 7 ; vote number 2001-254 on Jul 19, 2001

Voted YES on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations.

Vote to establish a program that would promote more responsible fatherhood by creating educational, economic and employment opportunities and give grants to state agencies and nonprofit groups, including faith-based institutions. Reference: Bill sponsored by Johnson, R-CT.; Bill HR 3073 ; vote number 1999-586 on Nov 10, 1999

Limit welfare to 2 years & cut welfare spending.

Nethercutt signed the Contract with America:

[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:

The Personal Responsibility Act:
Discourage illegitimacy and teen pregnancy by prohibiting welfare to minor mothers and denying increased AFDC for additional children while on welfare, cut spending for welfare programs, and enact a tough two-years-and-out provision with work requirements to promote individual responsibility.

Source: Contract with America 93-CWA5 on Sep 27, 1994

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