On July 31, the House Budget Committee held a hearing, “The War on Poverty: A Progress Report.” On the same day, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources held a similar hearing, “Improving the Safety Net: Better Coordinating Today’s Maze of Programs to Ensure Families Receive Real Help.” Both hearings focused on examining the success and efficiency of welfare programs on reducing poverty.
Budget Committee
Eloise Anderson, secretary, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, who also testified before the Ways and Means Committee, said, “As I’ve indicated, for decades, human services focused mainly on the mother and her children and that most families on welfare are single-parent families. A variety of studies has made it abundantly clear that children living in single-parent families are at a higher risk for negative outcomes, such as a lifetime of poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. This approach clearly has not worked! Most families on welfare are single-parent families. But, when children in single-parent families receive financial support from the non-custodial, non-resident parent they are less likely to live in poverty and the chance of them breaking out of the welfare trap increases. Governor [Scott] Walker’s vision in re-engaging fathers recognizes what should be common sense – fathers matter! Fathers are extremely important influencers of their kids, whether they live with their children or not. Thus, if children’s well-being is a serious concern in the War on Poverty, then the needs and aspirations of fathers must also be served.”
The following witnesses also testified:
Ways and Means Hearing
Michelle Saddler, secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services, said, “Amid all the talks of reforms, it is important that we not lose sight of what these programs are about – helping people meet the most basic needs of their families for food, shelter, and medical care. And these programs do work in fulfilling these basic needs and lifting families out of poverty. According to research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, low-income programs lifted 40 million people, including 9 million children, out of poverty in 2011. For SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program], 76 percent of households include a child, an elderly person, or a disabled person. For the more than 9 million SNAP households with children, this program provides an essential benefit during critical years of development and can positively impact their educational attainment and future potential. In addition to meeting families’ basic needs, these programs do actually help many people progress towards self-sufficiency. Each year, we in Illinois close approximately 10,000 TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families] cases because their earnings are too high for them to continue receiving assistance. Our efforts to support them in education and training and to connect them to employment opportunities pay off for these families.”
The following witnesses also testified:
