Brian4Liberty
04-21-2015, 12:03 PM
Strengthen America Through Opportunity, Not Dependency (http://teapartysolutionsforamerica.com/strengthen-america-through-opportunity-not-dependency-48cb4b77e1c6)
by Representative Tim Huelskamp (KS-1)
Nearly 47 million Americans are recipients of one of America’s largest welfare programs: food stamps. This year, more than $81 billion will be spent on food stamps, adding to the more than $18 trillion in federal debt burdening current and future generations. Over the past 10 years, we have witnessed a shocking 160 percent increase in spending on food stamp programs, with no plans in sight to control costs.
On top of this, only 62.7 percent of all able-bodied adults are in the labor force, the smallest share in more than a generation. Millions of Americans can’t find a full-time job despite all of President Obama’s attempts to pour billions of federal taxpayer dollars into the economy through Obamacare, a massive stimulus, and government bailouts.
Those suffering from Obama’s failed policies are put on the welfare rolls and federal welfare programs like food stamps, which only encourage government dependence. The Obama White House has repeatedly tried to throw more taxpayer dollars at problems like poverty and joblessness. By encouraging this vicious cycle of joblessness and bigger government, Washington is only leaving more individuals dependent upon the federal government for food and shelter.
Instead of offering another government handout and more debt, I have proposed legislation to build upon the successful 1996 welfare reforms by empowering those looking for opportunity and a hand up.
By establishing work, volunteer, and job training requirements for food stamp recipients who are able-bodied and have no dependents, I believe we can help transition individuals from dependence to independence, from a welfare check to a paycheck.
I put forward a common-sense solution to preserve food stamp assistance for those truly in need — mothers, children, the disabled, elderly, and families fallen on hard times — and encourage able-bodied adults seeking benefits to engage in volunteer work and job training to qualify. Let’s get these folks the tools and training to get a job and back into the workforce.
These changes are included in the State Nutrition Assistance Flexibility Act (H.R. 1355), which I introduced during the previous Congress — and will introduce again this year. This bill would return food stamp and nutrition program spending to pre-Obama (Fiscal Year 2008) levels, provide states and local governments with flexibility in the form of fixed funding, and implement a work-activation program for 1.5 million able-bodied adults without dependents.
My legislation would merge six public food-assistance programs into a single block grant.
It would incentivize states to take a more proactive role in monitoring recipients and protecting against fraud and abuse. This would give states flexibility to better manage benefits distribution and adapt to the unique needs of their specific populations. By managing this program and helping people in need with the governments closest to the people, we can not only save money but also, and most important, better protect people’s lives, dignity, and families.
No one wants to rely on Obama and his big-government cronies to feed their families and heat their homes. No one wants to climb down the economic ladder. And no one wants to be locked into multigenerational welfare reliance. Now, with Republican leadership in the Senate and a historic Republican majority in the House, it is time for Washington to stop borrowing billions of taxpayers’ dollars each year to fund a growing welfare state. The elections in November were a clear mandate from the American people. It is time we start advancing conservative reforms in Congress.
The best way to affirm the inherent value of every human life is not with another government handout, but by encouraging self-sufficiency and the talents and abilities each individual has to offer our communities. Policy changes to the food stamp program promote not only a more secure financial future for our country but also thriving, self-reliant families and individuals.
...
http://teapartysolutionsforamerica.com/strengthen-america-through-opportunity-not-dependency-48cb4b77e1c6
by Representative Tim Huelskamp (KS-1)
Nearly 47 million Americans are recipients of one of America’s largest welfare programs: food stamps. This year, more than $81 billion will be spent on food stamps, adding to the more than $18 trillion in federal debt burdening current and future generations. Over the past 10 years, we have witnessed a shocking 160 percent increase in spending on food stamp programs, with no plans in sight to control costs.
On top of this, only 62.7 percent of all able-bodied adults are in the labor force, the smallest share in more than a generation. Millions of Americans can’t find a full-time job despite all of President Obama’s attempts to pour billions of federal taxpayer dollars into the economy through Obamacare, a massive stimulus, and government bailouts.
Those suffering from Obama’s failed policies are put on the welfare rolls and federal welfare programs like food stamps, which only encourage government dependence. The Obama White House has repeatedly tried to throw more taxpayer dollars at problems like poverty and joblessness. By encouraging this vicious cycle of joblessness and bigger government, Washington is only leaving more individuals dependent upon the federal government for food and shelter.
Instead of offering another government handout and more debt, I have proposed legislation to build upon the successful 1996 welfare reforms by empowering those looking for opportunity and a hand up.
By establishing work, volunteer, and job training requirements for food stamp recipients who are able-bodied and have no dependents, I believe we can help transition individuals from dependence to independence, from a welfare check to a paycheck.
I put forward a common-sense solution to preserve food stamp assistance for those truly in need — mothers, children, the disabled, elderly, and families fallen on hard times — and encourage able-bodied adults seeking benefits to engage in volunteer work and job training to qualify. Let’s get these folks the tools and training to get a job and back into the workforce.
These changes are included in the State Nutrition Assistance Flexibility Act (H.R. 1355), which I introduced during the previous Congress — and will introduce again this year. This bill would return food stamp and nutrition program spending to pre-Obama (Fiscal Year 2008) levels, provide states and local governments with flexibility in the form of fixed funding, and implement a work-activation program for 1.5 million able-bodied adults without dependents.
My legislation would merge six public food-assistance programs into a single block grant.
It would incentivize states to take a more proactive role in monitoring recipients and protecting against fraud and abuse. This would give states flexibility to better manage benefits distribution and adapt to the unique needs of their specific populations. By managing this program and helping people in need with the governments closest to the people, we can not only save money but also, and most important, better protect people’s lives, dignity, and families.
No one wants to rely on Obama and his big-government cronies to feed their families and heat their homes. No one wants to climb down the economic ladder. And no one wants to be locked into multigenerational welfare reliance. Now, with Republican leadership in the Senate and a historic Republican majority in the House, it is time for Washington to stop borrowing billions of taxpayers’ dollars each year to fund a growing welfare state. The elections in November were a clear mandate from the American people. It is time we start advancing conservative reforms in Congress.
The best way to affirm the inherent value of every human life is not with another government handout, but by encouraging self-sufficiency and the talents and abilities each individual has to offer our communities. Policy changes to the food stamp program promote not only a more secure financial future for our country but also thriving, self-reliant families and individuals.
...
http://teapartysolutionsforamerica.com/strengthen-america-through-opportunity-not-dependency-48cb4b77e1c6