Thursday, February 7, 2025
Chairman Hardin and members of the Health and Human Services Committee:
My name is Garret Swanson, G-A-R-R-E-T S-W-A-N-S-O-N and I am here on behalf of the Holland Children’s Movement, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that strives to fulfill its vision for Nebraska to become a beacon in economic security and opportunity for all children and families, in support of LB 102.
In May of last year the Nebraska Examiner reported a quote from our Governor Jim Pillen. Governor Pillen said, “Green light, pedal to the metal,” referring to capturing federal dollars to use here in Nebraska. With LB102 we have an opportunity to put to use more federal dollars to help Nebraskans that need it. I commend the Department of Health and Human Services for developing a spending plan that fully expends the 115 million sitting in the TANF budget. However, current assistance levels still leave recipients living in poverty.
According to research conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, increasing TANF cash assistance is critical to fighting poverty. With high inflation the last few years TANF benefits in most states are at their lowest value since 1996. Since 2021 fifteen states including South Dakota, Wyoming, Texas, and South Carolina have increased the amount of benefits given. With several states, like Wyoming and Texas adding recurring adjustments to their TANF benefits.
What Senator Spivey wants to do isn’t something new, policymakers across the country are moving in this direction because of the responsible desire to keep families out of poverty. In the fiscal year 2020, states spent 22% of TANF funds on basic assistance, that is down from 71% in 1997. This Committee and the Legislature have already expanded programs like SNAP to aid low income Nebraskans. It is time for TANF and ADC to catch up by implementing a new formula to better serve Nebraskans as during the height of COVID-19, no adjustment happened between 2021 and 2022.
Senators, let’s put the pedal to the metal and use our federal funds where they’ll be the most effective, with Nebraskans that need it.
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Garret Swanson
Director of Strategic Engagement
Holland Children's Movement