Policy Resolution HHS-15-13

Facilitating Pathways to Economic Self-Sufficiency for Families
Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee

WHEREAS, individuals and families who receive government assistance should not face stigma and shame, but should have the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families;

WHEREAS, those who want the opportunity to provide for their own families should be helped, not hindered, by government assistance;

WHEREAS, a study by the Center for American Progress found that Black women earn 69.5 percent of what their white, male counterparts earn;

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes that public assistance can be a valuable tool in helping the working poor improve their financial outlook;

WHEREAS, public assistance programs can help recipients afford housing, child care, nutrition, utilities, and other basic necessities;

WHEREAS, with passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996, the nation recognized the importance of job skill development and employment among the working poor;

WHEREAS, success at work may lead to a “cliff effect” wherein a well-earned promotion or extra work hours causes employees to lose public assistance eligibility, but still leaves them unable to afford the full costs of basic living expenses;

WHEREAS, this inability to accept promotions and pay raises is an unintended consequence that directly contradicts public assistance policies designed to promote skill growth and long-term employment among the working poor;

WHEREAS, public policy models exist that alleviate institutional barriers for working families and more effectively promote advancement to career level employment;

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an individual without a high school diploma earns 72.5 percent of what an individual with a high school diploma earns;

WHEREAS, the NBCSL recognizes the importance of a post-secondary degree in lifetime earning potential, and according to a Pew Research study, adults who receive a high school diploma have a lifetime earning potential that is approximately 54.2 percent of someone with a bachelor’s degree; and

WHEREAS, NBCSL believes states must play a role in facilitating the attainment of secondary and post-secondary education.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports families in transitioning from “welfare to work”;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL believes that employers should provide a living wage that allows their employees to meet the needs of their families without assistance from the government;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL recognizes the importance of alleviating the cliff effect for families receiving public assistance;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL urges states to address and minimize the impact of the cliff effect on their citizens;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL supports opportunities for those who receive government assistance to obtain the highest degree of schooling possible, and further urges the Congress to fully fund the Pell Grant program;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL believes obtaining a GED or post-secondary degree is a critical step toward self-sufficiency and taking classes toward such a pursuit should qualify as “welfare work requirements”;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL believes that recipients of government assistance should be allowed up to four years to complete educational pursuits for the best chance at achieving self-sufficiency over the long term; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

  • SPONSORS: Senator Jeffrey Hayden (MN) and Senator Tanya D. Cook (NE)
  • Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
  • Certified by Committee Chair: Senator Willie Simmons (MS)
  • Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 12, 2014
  • Ratification is certified by: Representative Joe Armstrong (TN), President