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| Welfare
Reform While I voted for and support the overall intent of welfare reform to move able-bodied adults into full-time employment, I believe improvements can and should be made to the welfare system. Current welfare law requires adult recipients to engage in a work activity. To ensure that these participants are able to fulfill the work requirements and make the transition from welfare to full-time employment, significant resources must be devoted to making quality child care available for children. Children whose parents are making an effort should not be left without a safety net due to an arbitrary time limit on how long they can receive benefits. These time limits are particularly troubling during a time of recession, when workers have increased difficulty finding work. Current law fails welfare recipients by not allowing them to pursue higher education. The law restricts the educational opportunities that are available to beneficiaries, limiting them to one year of vocational education. A high school diploma is generally no longer sufficient for employment in our high-tech world, and jobs that do not require higher education generally do not pay enough to support a family. If we are serious about requiring life-long employment, then we need to ensure that welfare beneficiaries get the education they need for secure jobs with salaries solid enough to support their families. |
SENATOR DICK DURBIN'S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA |