Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4, the welfare reauthorization bill.

H.R. 4 is much the same as the legislation opposed by 197 Members last year. It imposes enormous unfunded mandates on state governments, while requiring states to make fundamental changes to their welfare systems. It caps the amount of rehabilitative services a state can provide and imposes inflexible work requirements that restrict states’ ability to respond effectively to their populations.

A little known fact about TANF is that 44% of families in the program include a person with a physical or mental impairment. Not surprisingly, studies show that families including a person with a disability disproportionately lose TANF assistance through sanctions. Increased demands on states and families of the disabled heighten their already extraordinary risk of inappropriate sanctions.

It is our responsibility to incorporate safeguards for families caring for individuals with special needs. I urge my colleagues to act responsibly by supporting the alternative, Democratic substitute, which allows for state flexibility in meeting the needs of people with disabilities by leaving in place mechanisms for a real chance at rehabilitation.