They Have in the TANF Program to Other Federally Funded Means Tested Programs, Particularly Food Stamps. There needs to be a radical simplification of this program's complex income, asset and deduction rules, which continue to mystify staff and customers. In themselves, they constitute a considerable barrier to participation in the program. If the above cannot be done or seems too big a step, the Congress should grant increased waiver authority to United States Department of Agriculture to allow state experiments in the Food Stamp Program. This would be similar to the waiver demonstration projects that gave states the experience and the information to craft successful welfare reform programs.
States are the great laboratories of democracy.
While we are well aware of the fact that this Committee does not have jurisdiction over the Food Stamp Program, we urge you to constantly work with your colleagues that have direct responsibility for that program to grant the state's a measure of the flexibility that was contained in the federal welfare reform law. As you know, the states have responded appropriately to that flexibility and would do the same with regard to the Food Stamp Program. Full federal participation in the pass-through and disregard in the calculation of the grant of any child support collected on behalf of families who receive TANF cash assistance. There is growing support in Maryland and across the nation for passing through and disregarding at least a portion of the child support collected on behalf of children receiving cash assistance. There are many good reasons to do this.