Children's Defense Fund Pushes Congressional Bill to Repair 1996 Welfare Reform Law

Interview by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus.

Thirty years ago, Marian Wright Edelman founded the Children's Defense Fund, to promote the well-being of America's children, especially poor children. The well-known slogan of her organization, "Leave no child behind" was recently co-opted by George W. Bush during his campaign for president.



The controversial 1996 welfare reform law -- known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF -- replaced the federal welfare program that primarily benefited children. As TANF comes up for re-authorization this year, the Children's Defense Fund has proposed sweeping legislation to repair critical flaws they saw in the reform bill signed into law by President Clinton.

Provisions in their "Act to Leave No Child Behind" includes improvements in health care, housing, and education benefits for children, as well as measures to support families leaving welfare, such as transportation and child care.

Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Marian Wright Edelman about her group's proposals to lift children out of poverty, the price tag of the program, and her reaction to the President's adoption of the Defense Fund's slogan(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found At http://www.btlonline.org). (A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found at http://www.btlonline.org).

For more information on the Act to Leave No Child Behind and the Children's Defense Fund's other work, call (202) 628-8787 or visit their Web site at www.childrensdefense.org

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