Dear friend,
It’s your Congresswoman, Gwen Moore. I hope you are enjoying the beginning of Fall, I wanted to keep you updated on my work in Washington D.C. ⬇⬇
Reforming TANF
Wisconsin was the birthplace of welfare reform, later becoming the Temporary Assistnace to Needy Families (TANF) program in 1996. At the time, I was a state senator who had 100 amendments to address the issues it faces today: too much discretion and little oversight. States are given broad authority and power on how they can spend TANF funds, which can lead to fraud and abuse.
The Mississippi TANF scandal siphoned millions of taxpayer dollars away from families in poverty for projects like volleyball stadiums. But we know that it’s not the first scandal, which is why we must make reforms so that every TANF dollar reaches those who need it. Watch my full remarks at the Ways and Means Committee hearing here.
Milwaukee Night
I had a wonderful time coming together for Milwaukee Night in D.C. to celebrate our growth and what lies ahead for our community.
The 30th Anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
In 1994, VAWA changed how our country responded to domestic violence. It was no longer seen as an issue to be settled in the home, but a serious societal problem that demanded a policy response. In 2013, I led efforts to increase tribal sovereignty so that non-Native abusers can finally be held accountable for violence against Native women. I remain committed to providing federal resources to support survivors and finally end the scourge of domestic violence.
Fighting for Tax Fairness
Next year will be an opportunity to create tax policies that better serves middle class and low-income families. I spoke on the need to strengthen the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit to fight poverty and help with the high cost of raising children. So glad to join Senator Bennet, Rep. Doggett, Americans for Tax Fairness, and passionate advocates. As you can see, I was in great company!
Improving Child Welfare Services and Programs
I voted to pass bipartisan legislation to fund important child welfare related services and secure a $75 million increase in overall Title IV-B funding. Many of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth priorities are included in this bill, including support peer to peer support, helping aging foster youth and lifting up kinship care. This legislation also includes my proposal to strengthen tribal government’s ability to enforce nonpayment of child support. Additionally, I also worked to successfully include my bipartisan efforts to ensure that families aren’t separated solely for child poverty and those with lived experiences in the child welfare system have a say in their state’s child welfare programs.
This bill works to improve the child welfare system, so it can better serve children and families. Watch my full remarks on the House Floor here.
My Office is Here to Help
As always, my office is here to help. If you need help with a federal matter, please don’t hesitate to call my district office at 414-297-1140.
Your friend,
Gwen
