from the DataCenter's Economic Justice Program, Winter 2002

Welfare moms and policy experts to testify on the hidden side of welfare reform

Members of Grass Roots Organizing for Welfare Leadership (GROWL), a national network of 52 grassroots welfare rights and economic justice organizations in 34 states working to focus welfare policy on reducing poverty, will conduct policy briefings on the impact of welfare reform to ensure that grassroots voices are heard before Congress considers welfare reauthorization.

Welfare moms, policy experts and activists will give testimony at the hearings that documents current problems and suggests policy directions for addressing discrimination, criminalization of poverty, family diversity, education and training issues. Members of Congress, congressional aides, local government and community leaders will attend the hearings.

The DataCenter's Economic Justice project worked with GROWL to develop profiles of members of Congress who are key players in TANF reauthorization. Our research led to a successful national postcard campaign targeting Representative Wally Herger (R-CA), a key figure in TANF reauthorization because he chairs the House Subcommittee on Human Resources. After receiving 16,000 postcards requesting Subcommittee hearings on welfare reform to include testimony from welfare recipients, Representative Herger agreed to meet with a GROWL delegation. GROWL delegations have met with other key members of Congress to build support for grassroots voices in the welfare reauthorization debate.

For further information or to get involved, contact Grass Roots Organizing for Welfare Leadership.