WHEREAS:

The federal cash assistance block grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), is due for reauthorization in 2010; and

WHEREAS:
TANF is a flawed but essential part of the safety net for very low-income families with children; and

WHEREAS:
TANF now aids less than a quarter of poor children; and

WHEREAS:
TANF places barriers in front of single parents who want to go to school or receive training; and

WHEREAS:
TANF’s “work first” approach has caused the loss of unionized public sector jobs with good wages and benefits; and

WHEREAS:
Due to inflation, the real value of the TANF block grant has fallen by nearly 30 percent since 1996, and states have to bear the additional costs of rising caseloads; and

WHEREAS:
The TANF Emergency Fund, established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, made $5 billion available to reimburse states for increased TANF costs, but this fund is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2010.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge Congress to declare that the primary goal of the TANF program is to reduce poverty; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge Congress to reject TANF’s “work first” emphasis and instead encourage states to blend education, training, subsidized employment, and a wide range of barrier-reducing activities tailored to the needs of each family; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge Congress to strengthen the TANF non-displacement protections and give the federal government the authority to enforce worker protections, including the requirement that states establish a grievance procedure for incumbent workers harmed by TANF’s work requirements, as well as other requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge Congress to increase the TANF state block grants to at least reflect inflation since 1996; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME urge Congress to extend the TANF Emergency Fund beyond its scheduled expiration and to institute counter-cyclical additional funding for TANF that would be triggered automatically when warranted by economic conditions, without the need for congressional action.

SUBMITTED BY:
Patricia Ann Bailey, Delegate
AFSCME Local 2004, Council 81
Karen L.K. Valentine, Delegate
AFSCME Local 3078, Council 81
Delaware