HR884: HR884 President of the United States and Congress; increased state autonomy to allow for creation of innovative solutions to work disincentives and reform of social safety net programs; urge

25 LC 112 3509 House Resolution 884 By: Representatives Gaines of the 120th, Jasperse of the 11th, Hilton of the 48th, Greene of the 154th, and Dempsey of the 13th A RESOLUTION Urging increased state autonomy to allow for the creation of in novative solutions to work1 disincentives and the reform of social safety net programs; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, according to Area Development, Georgia ranks first among all states as the best3 state for business; and4 WHEREAS, CNBC ranked Georgia number one in the United States fo r business5 environment; and6 WHEREAS, Georgia's economic strength and social capital foster an environment of7 opportunity that benefits families striving to escape poverty; and8 WHEREAS, Georgia's uniquely successful approach of integrated w elfare program9 enrollment via the Georgia Gateway has proven effective and pav ed the way for further10 enrollment integration; and11 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has made concerted and significant efforts to identify and12 address instances of chronic or inter-generational poverty that still occur among its citizens;13 and14 H. R. 884 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3509 WHEREAS, Georgia's Quick Start job training program has positioned it as a national leader15 in workforce policies that strengthen upward mobility for impoverished families; and16 WHEREAS, new independent research from the Sutherland Institute identifies evidence of17 families receiving public assistance feeling disincentivized fr om pursuing or accepting18 opportunities to increase their earned income and improve their financial situation; and19 WHEREAS, this research finds that 77 percent of respondents to a statewide survey of public20 assistance recipients report concern that earning additional income would result in a loss of21 benefits that would worsen their family's financial situation; and22 WHEREAS, this research further finds that 62 percent of respond ents report feeling stuck23 in a low-income job due to the belief that increased income would cause loss of benefits that24 would not be worth the additional income; and25 WHEREAS, this research further finds that 43 percent of respond ents report having26 intentionally limited their earned income due to fear of trigge ring a "benefits cliff" or27 "benefits plateau"; and28 WHEREAS, the Georgia Center for Opportunity has produced a comp utational model29 demonstrating the effects of benefits cliffs in every Georgia c ounty via their website,30 benefitscliffs.org; and31 WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta defines this pheno menon as a wage32 increase that "may result in a family being financially worse off (a benefits cliff) or no better33 off (a benefits plateau) than before the wage increase"; and34 H. R. 884 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3509 WHEREAS, for families who strive to improve their economic cond itions, benefits cliffs,35 benefits plateaus, and other disincentive effects have the potential to trap families in poverty36 by hindering workforce participation and disincentivizing financial stability; and37 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is committed to finding innovativ e solutions to any38 disincentive effects to work, family formation, economic indepe ndence, or other39 opportunities that may be present in the social safety net; and40 WHEREAS, due to federal restrictions, states have limited autho rity to experiment with41 federally funded social safety net programs for the purpose of finding innovative reforms that42 can address benefits cliffs, benefits plateaus, perception gaps, or other obstacles to upward43 mobility experienced by families receiving public assistance.44 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that45 the members of this body urge the President of the United State s and Congress to grant46 additional flexibility and autonomy to states to experiment with innovative pilot programs47 and other reforms to improve social safety net programs by addr essing any work48 disincentives that may exist.49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body urge the P resident and50 Congress to expedite waiver approvals for states pursuing innovative pilot programs or other51 reforms to the social safety net.52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body urge the P resident and53 Congress to pursue additional flexibility to the states in the form of block grants for a wider54 array of existing social safety net programs.55 H. R. 884 - 3 - 25 LC 112 3509 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body urge the P resident and56 Congress to streamline and consolidate reporting requirements from the states to the federal57 government to save taxpayer dollars and yield efficiencies.58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body call upon the President and59 Congress to embrace the principles of federalism to further emp ower states to be the60 laboratories of democracy and drive innovative reforms and impr ovements to our nation's61 social safety net.62 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized63 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to64 Georgia's congressional delegation, the Office of the President of the United States, the65 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majo rity Leader of the United66 States Senate, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the United67 States Department of Agriculture.68 H. 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