Attempt
Fails To Add Marriage Promotion And Fatherhood
Funds To TANF Extension
October 1, 2004
Thanks and congratulations to all who urged their Senators
to reject attempts to divert critical federal resources needed
to help struggling families to fund marriage promotion activities
and fatherhood programs. Earlier this week Senators Rick Santorum
(R-PA) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) attempted to add the funding to
the latest extension of the TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families) program, but were thwarted by Senator Harry Reid
(D-NV) and others.
Instead, both the House and Senate passed the ninth extension
of the 1996 welfare law without any major policy changes. The
votes (unanimous in the House and by voice vote in the Senate)
came on the last day of the eighth extension, September 30.
The new extension runs through March 31, 2005 .
Congress once again will be under pressure next year to pass
a full-term, five-year reauthorization, but both sides are
hoping that the November election will strengthen their respective
positions. Since a new Congress, the 109th, will be sworn in
in January 2005, all legislation, even bills passed but not
enacted, must be reintroduced to be considered.
Again, thanks for your interest and involvement.
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