Untitled

News from Congresswoman
NYDIA M. VELÁZQUEZ
Representing New York's 12th Congressional District * Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens
Ranking Democratic Member, House Small Business Committee

Seal of the United States House of Representatives

For Immediate Release
December 10, 2001

CONTACT: Wendy Belzer,
James Snyder (202) 225-2361

MEDIA ADVISORY
*NOTE LOCATION CHANGE*
Velázquez to Unveil Welfare Reform Bill

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) will join community organizations Make the Road by Walking and Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE), a project of the Fifth Avenue Committee, to introduce the Welfare Recipients Lifeline Act.

At a time when many New York families have reached their five-year lifetime limit on federal welfare assistance, Congresswoman Velázquez will highlight the need for legislation to broaden welfare eligibility requirements and repeal time limits. Welfare recipients will speak to these issues, relate their experiences and reflect on how they stand to lose without legislation to amend the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.

The Welfare Recipients Lifeline Act has four main provisions. It will:

Repeal the 5-year time limit on federal welfare benefits
Repeal provisions which bar legal immigrants from receiving welfare benefits
Require all States to staff welfare offices with bilingual personnel and provide printed translated materials in any area where a significant number of welfare recipients speak a language other than English
Adjust the annual TANF (Temporary Assistance for Need Families) to keep pace with inflation

When and Where

When:	Tuesday, December 11, at 11 a.m.
Where:	Make the Road by Walking, 301 Grove Street, (between Myrtle/Knickerbocker Avenues) Brooklyn, NY, 11237. M train to Wyckoff Avenue, L train to Myrtle Avenue.
Who:	Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, New York's 12th District Representatives from Make the Road by Walking, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE), a project of the Fifth Avenue Committee Dr. Robert Schachter, Executive Director of the New York City Chapter, National Association of Social Workers

###

Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 * www.house.gov/velazquez

Return to Main Home Page | Return to Welfare Reform