Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) participated in a Ways and Means hearing that focused on the misuse of welfare funds and the need to reform Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) non-assistance funds. The aim is to ensure the money goes to families in need, connects people to work, and improves accountability.
Congresswoman Miller began her remarks by highlighting how TANF fraud has been committed within different states, including West Virginia. She asked former professional football player Brett Favre to share his concerns about the misuse of these funds spreading throughout the country.
“I was reviewing the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) statement for the record highlighting the forthcoming report Chairman Smith and Chairman LaHood requested investigating TANF non-assistance spending. One thing that disturbed me was how widespread and repetitive TANF waste, fraud, and abuse is in the country and how weak our accounting systems are to catch and correct it. According to the GAO, 99 of the 155 audit findings have repeated for at least 1 year. West Virginia has had the same internal control deficiency finding reported for 15 years and nothing has been done to correct it. Mr. Favre, do you believe more scandals like the one you found yourself involved in is possible across the country if we don’t act now to reform and bring more transparency and accountability to the TANF program?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
“100% absolutely. If it can happen in my state, it can happen in any state. You just spoke on the statistics and it’s kind of frightening to be honest with you what is being wasted," responded Brett Favre.
Congresswoman Miller asked Sam Adolphsen, Policy Director for the Foundation for Government Accountability, about what necessary steps should be taken by the Federal Government to ensure that TANF non-assistance funds are going to appropriate places.
“TANF is our nation’s primary welfare program, but it’s my understanding that there are no federal guidelines about eligibility and that there are issues with how funding is allocated to states. Based on your testimony, we know that you believe TANF could be better utilized if that were the case. For example, West Virginia has historically had a higher poverty rate compared to the rest of the country. That would mean that my home state would need more funds to address unique challenges and demographics of my rural community. What can we do at the federal level to make sure TANF money is actually getting to families in poverty and states with high rates of poverty?” asked Congresswoman Miller.
“One of things we could do stop this from happening is actually enforce some rules we do have. California has been out compliance for 15 years with their work participation rate [The Department Health Human Services] HHS said there’s $1 billion fines essentially they should levy but they’ve written down $60 million We have audits mentioned GAO looking first easy step just act those basic oversight measures already take I think question funding exactly right How make sure money programs right There unobligated carryover large outlay funding states We need targeted folks who need most get rural areas each highest levels where assistance help back feet way done making sure use most meet core objectives target directly,” responded Mr Adolphsen
Congresswoman Miller proceeded ask Mr Adolphsen identify other possible factors consider deciding eligible
“Is criteria other than ‘poverty rates’ believe prioritized determining which families receive adequately supported?” asked Congresswoman Miller
“It should income thresholds associated support not cash also job assistance programs education attainment Again California spends $1 billion tuition higher education college directly purpose program when no threshold well above line figures tuition grants working system stop order target truly,” responded Mr Adolphsen
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