Orrin Hatch on Welfare & Poverty

Republican Sr Senator (UT)

Supports welfare reform from dependency to self-sufficiency

The current welfare system of the United States is broken. It is destructive. It destroys self esteem, families, and personal responsibility. The Congress has passed legislation to reform this system into one that supports families transitioning into self-sufficiency rather than one that pulls them into a destructive cycle of dependency. Source: Senate Statement on Welfare Reform Mar 3, 1997

Welfare should be a transitional program, not permanent

I generally support programs to help Americans who are unable to work or who are temporarily down on their luck. But, I also believe that our welfare system should not be a program of permanent hand-outs for those who are able to work. We must thoroughly review our current welfare system and identify those rules and policies that encourage this kind of welfare dependency. We need to design a welfare system that is transitional, helping families achieve self-sufficiency in a reasonable amount of time. Source: Senate Statement on Welfare Reform Mar 3, 1997

Replace hand outs with hand up via job training

I support programs that will provide a “hand up” not a “hand out.” Job training, vocational education, and literacy programs can help welfare recipients become qualified for employment. The availability of child care will permit single parents on welfare to get training and then a job. This is critical to the success of any welfare program. Source: Senate Statement on Welfare Reform Mar 3, 1997

Block grants let local programs work; fed programs do not

Too often, the federal government prevents innovative local programs from working by regulating them to death. States are in a much better position to meet specific state and local needs and to coordinate related programs, thus avoiding costly duplication and administrative costs. The welfare reform bill provided a system of block grants to the states which would help not only to better control costs, but also to improve the overall effectiveness of the programs. Source: Senate Statement on Welfare Reform Mar 3, 1997

Voted YES on welfare block grants.

Replacement of federal welfare guarantee with block grants to the states.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)78; N)21; NV)1 Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 3734; Bill H.R. 3734 ; vote number 1996-262 on Aug 1, 1996

Voted NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps.

Vote to not allow states the option of getting food stamp funds as a block grant administered by the state, rather than as a federal program, if they meet certain criteria. Reference: Bill S 1956 ; vote number 1996-218 on Jul 23, 1996

Voted YES on allowing state welfare waivers.

Vote on a procedural motion to allow consideration of an amendment to express the Sense of Congress that the president should approve the waivers requested by states that want to implement welfare reform. Reference: Bill S.1956 ; vote number 1996-208 on Jul 19, 1996

Voted YES on welfare overhaul.

Approval of an overhaul on the federal welfare system.
Status: Bill Passed Y)87; N)12; NV)1 Reference: Contract w/ America (Welfare Refm); Bill H.R. 4 ; vote number 1995-443 on Sep 19, 1995

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*Other candidates on Welfare & Poverty:*		*Orrin Hatch on other issues:*
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Page last updated: 3/31/2008