Our nation has been built and forged by generations of hardworking people. Since our country’s founding, the dignity of work has been vital to our culture and to the American dream itself.
Time and time again, meaningful jobs and work have been the key to ending the cycle of poverty and lifting struggling families into success. As we mark the 25th anniversary of welfare reform this summer, we must reaffirm our commitment to supporting our neighbors in need, strengthening the workforce, and growing our economy.
In 1996, Congress passed landmark bipartisan welfare reform, which included the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. These block grants were designed to empower states to end open-ended entitlement and provide a temporary safety net for those in need. Since then, some states have manipulated the program and outright ignored its work requirements. A quarter of a century later, we have the opportunity to return that program to its intended purpose — addressing the underlying barriers to work and equipping families to succeed.
We can’t keep throwing money at the problem. No number of endless government payments can address the challenges that could be holding a family back from success, which could include addiction, abuse, or unaddressed mental health issues. While Democrats want to keep paying people to stay home, Republicans are putting forth pro-work, pro-growth solutions that help individuals find and keep family-sustaining jobs.
This week, Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee introduced the JOBS for Success Act to restore the promise of welfare reform by reauthorizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to strengthen accountability and measure work outcomes. This legislation includes important provisions to invest in workers, to modernize the welfare system, and to streamline assistance to social services through effective case management.
To end the cycle of poverty, we cannot keep sending checks without human connection. In Indiana and across the country, caseworkers are first-responders. These dedicated public servants provide accountability, transparency, and, most importantly, compassionate support to families in need. Caseworkers are the front line of social work, and it is critical that these heroes have the support that they need to do the job we have entrusted to them.
Addressing this challenge has never been more important. As our nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and returns to work, our economy hinges on the future of our workforce. With more than 9 million job openings and a national worker shortage, we simply can’t afford to keep an entire generation of workers on the sidelines.
At the same time, big-government intervention is not the answer to our economic challenges. Inflation is the cost of Democrats’ reckless spending, and Hoosier families are paying the price. From the gas pump to the grocery store, skyrocketing costs have real consequences. Instead of perpetuating the Democrats’ outrageous plan to keep spending and exacerbating this crisis, we can take a step forward toward fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility.
Incentivizing work and eliminating barriers is proven to uplift families from poverty to prosperity. By reforming welfare for the first time in the 21st century, we can take commonsense action today to secure tomorrow’s success. Restoring the dignity of work will not only strengthen our national fabric but also will unlock the American dream for families now and for generations to come.
Jackie Walorski represents Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District in the House of Representatives, where she is the ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.
