In late December, Congress passed the payroll tax extension which included a provision to extend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) through February. Under the measure, TANF is extended at fiscal 2011 levels of $16.5 billion per year.
NASW is supporting the RISE Out of Poverty Act (H.R. 3573) which aims to reduce child poverty by permanently authorizing the TANF program as a funding stream for subsidized employment, and revising the work participation rules for families receiving cash assistance.
