SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1995 SESSION
LD0275312Patrons--Cunningham, Christian, Crittenden, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Melvin, Robinson and Spruill; Senators: Lambert, Lucas, Marsh, Maxwell and Miller, Y.B.
WHEREAS, the current welfare system is inadequate and needs major reform; and
WHEREAS, the fact that approximately 70 percent of welfare recipients leave welfare within two years, but often return, demonstrates a strong work ethic yet an inability to find stable employment that pays a decent wage; and
WHEREAS, African-American children are poorer today than in 1969, are more likely to live in extreme poverty than at any time since such statistics have been calculated, and face a greater infant mortality rate compared to white babies than in any year since 1940; and
WHEREAS, the problems of economic dislocation and lack of education and training affect millions of Americans, including those receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits; and
WHEREAS, a broad vision of welfare reform which addresses the education, training and human service needs of all low-income Americans can potentially move families toward self-sufficiency and control over their own lives and destinies; and
WHEREAS, people do not choose to live in poverty and the overwhelming majority of people on AFDC are children who have no control over their circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the current system fails to fully utilize community initiatives, the private sector, educational resources, and inter-agency coordination to deliver full job and training opportunities; and
WHEREAS, current welfare reform initiatives focus on altering the character of recipients, rather than focusing on the acquisition of skills; and
WHEREAS, a new comprehensive full employment welfare program may require greater investments initially but will ultimately lead to tremendous savings through reduced welfare costs and higher tax revenues from former recipients who are gainfully employed; and
WHEREAS, the new congressional leadership [ calls upon America's children
who are on welfare to be placed proposes as one approach placing
America's children who are considered at-risk or are on welfare ] in care
away from the primary family; and
WHEREAS, the new [ leadership appears to lack compassion for economic
equity congressional leadership should act with compassion for the
disadvantaged, acknowledging the existence of economic inequities and social
injustice ] ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General
Assembly express its intent to [ adopt support ] a comprehensive
approach to welfare reform that addresses the failures of the education
system, the weaknesses of the labor market, and the economic and social
problems which exacerbate the disadvantages faced by African-American
families.