Tuesday, July 16
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
The National Press Club, First Amendment Lounge, 529 14th Street, NW
The landmark federal welfare reform legislation of 1996 is set to expire on
September 30. But with just a few weeks remaining on the congressional calendar
before the August recess, lawmakers are divided over work requirements, aid
for legal immigrants, funding for child care and other issues. At stake here
are policy questions rooted in moral understandings about the responsibilities
of individuals and the responsibility of government to promote social justice.
A distinguished group of religious leaders and experts on welfare policy will
join to discuss how our values should shape social legislation. What are government's
obligations to the less fortunate in our society? How does government balance
the need for compassion with attempts to encourage self-sufficiency? What criteria
should be used to judge the success of welfare reform? Please join us for this
timely discussion. Panelists: Ken Connor, President, Family Research Council;
Ron Haskins, Senior Advisor for Welfare Policy at the Domestic Policy Council
of the White House; Sharon Parrott, Co-director of Federal TANF Policy, Center
on Budget and Policy Priorities; Jim Skillen, President, Center for Public Justice;
Roberto Suro, Executive Director, Pew Hispanic Center; Jim Wallis, Convener
and President, Call to Renewal. Moderator:
E.J. Dionne, Jr., Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Co-chair, the Pew Forum
on Religion and
Public Life. RSVP to Brenna Moore at (202) 955-5075 or bmoore@pewforum.org.