In Attendance:
Jace Johnson, D.C. staff to Senator Orrin Hatch
Sheila Walsh-McDonald, Salt Lake Community Action Program (SLCAP)
Mary Beth Vogel-Ferguson, U of U Social Research Institute
Garth Mangum, U of U Economics-retired
Bob Haywood, Utah Department of Human Services (DHS)
Dave Steele, Utah State Office of Education (USOE)
Stan Eckersley, Legislative Fiscal Analyst Office
Sarah Brenna, Department of Workforce Services
Tim Schultz, Utah Issues
Karen Silver, SLCAP
Robin Arnold Williams, DHS, American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)
Pat Nielson, League of Women Voters
Dee Rowland, Catholic Diocese
John Woeste, USOR, Independent Living Centers
Shirley Weathers, UREAP staff
Bill Walsh, UREAP staff

Welfare Reform Reauthorization

After introductions Bill Walsh asked Jace Johnson, Welfare Reform Reauthorization staff to Senator Hatch, to update the group on that issue. Jace said the process was like a funnel, where now in the Senate it came down to some basic issues and a bipartisan approach is needed. He said Senator Hatch favors the same positions he supported last year. He said that Senator Grassley, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (SFC), knows that progress is needed and expected. The main issue is child care funding, which must be decided whether Reauthorization passes or not. Jace said he does not think the House would grant a TANF extension unless the Senate has demonstrated progress on Reauthorization legislation by September 30, 2003.

A question was asked about a child care amount being discussed in the Senate and what are the views of members. Jace said that any amount over $1 billion--the amount in HR 4--would loose six Republican votes on the SFC, meaning that for a bill with more child care funding to pass out of the Committee, six Democrat votes will be needed. The Democrats have not specified an amount and are not united yet. Senator Hatch has approached Senators of both parties looking for an amount that will pass, but has not found one. His strategy is to leave the issue of additional child care money aside at the Committee level, pass a Reauthorization bill based on Chairman Grassley's proposal as is (with $1 billion for child care), and then amend it on the Senate Floor to include a substantially higher amount. Senator Grassley's staff is monitoring amounts.

Dave Steele asked if the National Chamber of Commerce position is impacting welfare reform and child care in the Senate. Jace said the Chamber has played only a minor role on this issue, including last year. Jace said that the states are the most influential player; child care and disabilities advocacy groups have been very effective. Jace said UREAP has been effective and suggested that, if we can energize similar groups in other states to contact their Senators, it will be useful. Other issues include whether or not to cap the employment credit. Some Senators strongly favor a cap. Senator Snowe is insisting that Maine's Parents As Scholars program be wrapped in to welfare reform.

On the issue of a TANF extension via a Continuing Resolution (CR), Jace said extensions are being discussed, but that usually happens at the last minute. In the meantime, efforts are continuing to get movement in the SFC to consider and pass out a bill. Shirley noted that there is widespread knowledge of threats by the Administration and House--to reduce funding or refuse to extend TANF and allow it to expire--if the Senate does not demonstrate progress on a bill, as well as pressure by the Administration to get a bill of their liking. Will the White House take the chance of being held responsible when families are harmed? Jace responded that no entity wants to look bad, that compromise would likely prevail. Robin Arnold-Williams pointed out the overwhelming number  of high profile issues facing the Senate and asked if welfare reform Reauthorization has a practical chance of making it to the Floor. Jace agreed that it is impossible to tell, but he indicated that frustrations are high, especially after a bill passed the SFC last year and then never made it to the Floor.

Karen Silver asked if Senator Hatch would support S. 1523, Pathways to Independence Act of 2003. Jace thanked her for a handout on the bill and agreed to discuss it and related disabilities issues with Senator Hatch. Shirley said that, since the bill is consistent with adopted UREAP Principles and disabilities groups are UREAP members, Jace could convey UREAP's endorsement for the bill to Senator Hatch as they talk. Jace said that Senator Hatch still favors Employment & Training enhancements, but no one could say what process Reauthorization would take. It may be that Senator Snowe's Parents as Scholars provision will prevail to accomplish that goal. Karen made the point that "no child left behind" should also be applied to TANF families.

There was a question about Superwaivers. Jace said a few Senators are interested in a small demonstration, but Senator Hatch does not favor the concept.

In response to a question about UREAP's role and activities at this juncture, Jace noted that UREAP has urged Senators to work towards a bipartisan TANF reauthorization bill and suggested that the same message would be appropriate for the Administration. Senators of both parties are needed if Reauthorization legislation is to come before the SFC and move on to the Floor. 

Jace had to leave at this point. UREAP participants thanked him for his time and information.

After additional discussion, staff agreed to draft a letter to President Bush based on points discussed in this meeting. They will post it for comment. (This letter was finalized but not sent because the sudden appearance of the Chairman's Mark and subsequent passage by the SFC made the message moot.) 

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization

Shirley Weathers said that a second draft of a WIA Reauthorization bill was put out by the Senate HELP Committee staff, reflecting further bipartisan negotiations and public input. Sarah Brenna said she received some analysis and would share it, but also noted a few key items dealt with in the first or second drafts: 1) that dedicated funding for One-Stop infrastructure is still being discussed; 2) consolidation of funding streams is "off the table;" 3) Youth Councils are to be a state option; 4) Governors will have considerable control, and 5) TANF will be a mandatory partner, although it will be at the discretion of the Governor. Sarah will  attend national meetings and hopes to provide new information to UREAP.

Garth Mangum reported that his research shows that WIA is only paying for 2.5% of "second chance" training in Utah. TANF pays for a much larger share. Garth distributed updated information on an Employment & Training piece he is working on and hopes to publish in October. He credited Utah's DWS for providing more training than a strict interpretation of the law might appear to allow. He said there is good coordination among Utah agencies.

Business Involvement in Welfare Reform Reauthorization

Dave Steele set up a meeting on August 14 with Robin Riggs, Chair of the Legislative Affairs Subcommittee of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce to seek support for key priorities for Welfare Reform Reauthorization. Besides Dave, Robin Arnold-Williams, Bill Walsh, and Shirley Weathers attended. Four points were stressed: 1) adequate child care funding, 2) additional months of education and training, 3) hours of participation based on business hiring practices, and 4) barrier removal and ongoing support on the job. Robin said he would try to get a meeting with Senator Hatch to communicated these points. Sarah said DWS regularly communicates with the Chamber and would try to reinforce these messages.

Sarah said she shared UREAP's draft business letter on welfare reform with DWS Regional Council staff and provided them with various options for involvement that UREAP staff had developed. Shirley said that Jan Zogmaister, State Youth Council Chair, had suggested sending the letter to the Council of National Federation of Independant Business (NFIB) for the State of Utah, a 3,500 business member association. This was done.

Congressional Contacts

National advocates have reminded state advocates to keep in touch with House Members because if a TANF or WIA Reauthorization bills pass the Senate, they will have to be "conferenced" with the House. If legislation stalls, there could be a Congressional fight over extensions. UREAP will continue to communicate with Senate and House members.

It was noted that Utah is likely to have a new Governor. UREAP will think about interacting with Olene Walker on these issues.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 23, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Horizonte.