Reps. Hardman, Waters, Gleason, Cheeks, Stallworth, Hopgood, Smith, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Bieda, Byrum, Condino, Daniels, Dennis, DeRossett, Ehardt, Elkins, Farrah, Garfield, Gieleghem, Gillard, Hood, Kolb, Kooiman, LaSata, Lipsey, McConico, Pappageorge, Phillips, Plakas, Sak, Spade, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Wojno, Zelenko, Jamnick, Minore, Murphy and Voorhees offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 248.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant program.

            Whereas, The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block grant program was established in 1996 as a key component of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.  The TANF program is committed to the goal of helping people make the transition to self-sufficiency through employment.  While this challenge is always a difficult one, TANF has helped many people gain new lives for themselves and their families; and

            Whereas, The authorization and funding for the TANF block grant program formally expired on September 30, 2002, but the program has been extended by Congress six times since then.  The most recent extension, on March 31, 2004, provided for the program until June 30, 2004.  The importance of this program to our country makes it essential that it be reauthorized.  Continued extensions do not have the same impact on the program and do not reflect the necessary level of long-term commitment; and

            Whereas, As Congress considers the TANF program, it also important that reauthorization include sufficient funding to carry out fully the work of helping families in need develop the skills essential to maintaining independence in an economy that is very challenging.  Clearly, the work carried out through the TANF program is vitally important, not only to the individuals and families in need, but also to the long-term strength of our communities, states, and country.  This is an investment that should be a priority item; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant program; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.