On June 27, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 2350, extending the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program until Sept. 30, 2003. The House of Representatives approved the same measure on June 11.

The TANF program, which replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) in 1996, was scheduled to expire last Sept., unless Congress reauthorized the program. Due to a combination of factors, including the mid-term election and a number of competing priorities, Congress adjourned last year without reauthorizing the program. Instead, Congress passed a number of extensions. The most recent extension expired on June 30, 2003.

The House already passed its version of the welfare reauthorization bill (H.R. 4). H.R. 4, which is very similar to the bill passed by the House last year and the president’s proposal, does not restore any benefits for immigrants. Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA), whose committee has jurisdiction over welfare, released his TANF reauthorization proposal earlier this week. Grassley’s proposal did not include any restorations of benefits for immigrants. However, advocates expect that the Senate Finance Committee members will offer amendments restoring health and TANF benefits to lawfully present immigrants when the committee considers TANF reauthorization during the week of July 21.

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California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative