May 13, 1998
BACKGROUND
Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (P.L. 104-193), access to postsecondary education was severely restricted for welfare recipients. Despite the overwhelming evidence that higher education provides the best avenue out of poverty, current law restricts to 12 months the length of time states can count postsecondary and vocational education as work. In addition, only 30 percent of a state's work participation rate can be comprised of recipients engaged in education, and beginning in the year 2000, that 30 percent must include teenagers without high school diplomas who are required to be in school.
An amendment proposed by Senator Paul Wellstone (DFL-MN) would increase the 12-month restriction to 24 months and would remove teenagers from the 30 percent limit, thus giving more people more time to enhance their chances in the job market. Senator Wellstone intends to offer the amendment to the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill (S. 1882) when it is debated on the Senate floor. Senate debate on S. 1882 is expected to take place sometime in June.
KEY SENATE TARGETS
It is particularly important to contact the following Senators. They were among those who supported a similar amendment proposed by Senator Levin (D-MI) during debate on the Balanced Budget Act. The Levin amendment would have increased the period of time for "countable" vocational and postsecondary education from 12 to 24 months. The amendment, challenged by a "point-of-order" required a three-fifths majority to pass and failed by a vote of 55-45. The Wellstone amendment will likely need only a simple majority to pass.
CONTACTING YOUR SENATORS
By Telephone. Call the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for your Senator's office. Or find direct line numbers (as well as District office telephone numbers) through NASW's website: 'www.socialworkers.org'. Click on "Links," then "Government & Advocacy," then "Contacting Congress."
When you call, ask to speak to the staff person handling welfare issues. If staff is unavailable, leave a message on voice mail or with the receptionist.
Sample Verbal Message
As a professional social worker knowledgeable about the correlation between education and earning power (or on behalf of the (number) members of the (state) Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers), I am calling to urge Senator (last name) to support Senator Wellstone's amendment to the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill. The amendment would increase access to postsecondary and vocational education for welfare recipients -- access that is key to successful welfare reform. Success should not be measured by how many families leave the welfare rolls, but by how many families leave the poverty rolls. The Wellstone amendment takes an important step toward that success.
By Letter. Address for all Senators:
The Honorable (first name, last name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (last name):
By E-Mail or Fax. Senate offices, which have e-mail addresses and/or fax lines, can be accessed through NASW's website: 'www.socialworkers.org'. Click on "Links," then "Government & Advocacy," and then "Contacting Congress."
Sample Letter
Date
The Honorable (first name, last name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (last name):
As a professional social worker (or on behalf of the (number) members of the (state) Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers), I urge you to support Senator Wellstone's amendment to the Higher Education Act reauthorization to increase access to postsecondary and vocational education for welfare recipients.
Since the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, community colleges, universities and adult education programs have seen dramatic declines in enrollment among welfare recipients. This consequence of the new law means that thousands of families will have fewer opportunities for escaping poverty and becoming self-sufficient.
Studies have shown that obtaining a college degree or vocational certificate is one of the most effective ways for women to increase their earnings and the amount of time they spend at paid jobs. The Institute for Women's Policy Studies found that a college degree is worth an additional $3.65 an hour (1997 dollars) for working mothers, relative to the wages of high school graduates, while the return in hourly wages for one year of work experience is only 10 cents an hour. And according to the U.S. Census Bureau, even the median earnings of adults with only an associate degree are 29 percent higher than adults with only a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent.
Success in welfare reform is not merely reducing caseloads. It is how many families are given the tools to move out of poverty. Senator Wellstone's amendment is a step forward in providing those tools.
Sincerely,
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