Today, Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced that the subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Expanding Opportunity by Funding What Works: Using Evidence to Help Low-Income Individuals and Families Get Ahead.” This hearing is the second in a series focused on ways to help move America’s families forward. The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. In view of the limited tim... Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the following statement in response to the February jobs report: “It’s always good news when more people find work. But too many families are still struggling to get by. So at the Ways and Means Committee, we’re moving full steam ahead on real reforms that will create more opportunity in this country, like expanding American trade and fixing our broken tax code. Our No. 1 goal is to build a healthy economy, and we won’t let up... Read more

WASHINGTON — Wednesday, Congressmen Todd Young (R-IN) and John Delaney (D-MD) introduced H.R. 1336, the Social Impact Partnership Act. This bipartisan legislation would support evidenced-based policy, a concept long promoted by Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The bill would improve social and public health outcomes by encouraging states, towns, and investors to coordinate and expand proven public policies that create more opportunity for people in need. Upon introduction of the legisla... Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) introduced the Preserving the Work Requirement for Welfare Act. The legislation prohibits the Obama administration from waiving the work requirement in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. In July 2012, the Obama administration declared it had the authority to waive the work requirement, which has been key to the success of welfare reform in increasing work and earnings and reducing poverty. No prior administration ever claim... Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-LA) delivered the following opening statement during the subcommittee's hearing on the challenges facing low-income individuals and families in today's economy. "Our first hearing this year is on challenges facing low-income individuals and families in today’s economy. "Our basic purpose as a subcommittee—a purpose stated in the subcommittee’s very title—is to promote the human resources of this country.... Read more

WASHINGTON — House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the following statement in response to the January employment situation report. "This report is welcome news. Growing our economy and creating good jobs in this country must be our top priority. Still, this recovery is too fragile for far too many. And in the long-term unemployed there's a lot of potential that we are still not tapping. "That's why the Ways and Means Committee is focused on ideas for durable long-term economic ... Read more

Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing series on moving America’s families forward. The first hearing will focus on Challenges Facing Low-Income Individuals and Families in Today’s Economy. Subsequent hearings are expected to focus on engaging low-income adults in work and training, coordinating benefit programs, reviewing lessons learned in other countries,... Read more

WASHINGTON — Today, the Commerce Department released the latest estimate for real gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2014. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement upon the report's release. "If today’s report tells us anything, it’s that we still aren’t fulfilling our potential. Economic growth is low and wage growth has stalled. Americans working harder than ever just to keep up deserve better. That’s why House Republicans are going to do ... Read more

In 2013, Democrats argued that ending a “temporary” unemployment-benefits program would hurt families in need. In fact, they called unemployment benefits “one of the best ways to grow the economy.” At the same time, Republicans argued that the extended benefits program was holding back job creation, which is what the unemployed really needed. This program, called Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), once contributed the bulk of up to 99 weeks of unemployment checks. Despite Democrats’ opp... Read more

WASHINGTON — Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address. “The President said he wants to work with Congress, and I want to take him up on that offer. But to make real progress, we have to focus on finding common ground—not issues that only divide us. “I was glad to hear the President ask Congress to pass trade-promotion authority. We simply can’t get the best trade agreements for the American peopl... Read more