February 13,2003

Grassley on Welfare Re-authorization Plans

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Fr: Jill Gerber
Re: House vote on welfare re-authorization
Da: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on his intentions for welfare re-authorization after the House voted to re-authorize the welfare program.

"I intend for the Finance Committee to act as soon as possible on a bipartisan welfare reauthorization bill that improves the current law with stronger work requirements, because work helps put welfare recipients on the road to self-sufficiency, and adequate child care services, which are an important complement to strong work requirements. Welfare re-authorization is a high priority, along with an economic stimulus and prescription drugs via Medicare. We can't delay action on a program that affects the lives of millions of people. Since the Senate is narrowly divided, we can't act as quickly and decisively as the House on welfare legislation, but I hope the Finance Committee will approve a bipartisan bill in the next few months that the full Senate will then approve."