Sources: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Family Violence Prevention Fund

DEAR (finance committee Senator)

We are writing to urge you to ensure that TANF reauthorization responsibly addresses the reality of sexual and domestic violence and supports the safety and self-sufficiency of all TANF recipients.

Many women use welfare and work as a way to escape an abusive relationship. Well over half of the women receiving welfare have experienced physical abuse by an intimate partner at some point during their adult lives, with as many as 30% of these women reporting abuse in a current relationship. A significant number of women receiving welfare also report physical and/or sexual abuse in childhood.

First, we ask that the Senate Finance Committee ensure that each state is mandated to address domestic and sexual violence in its TANF program by including a mandatory family violence provision in the manager's mark.

Mandating that each state respond to the reality of domestic and sexual violence within the TANF program builds on the best practices that have been developed in States across the country over the past five years. It captures what we know works to enhance both the safety and self-sufficiency of domestic and sexual violence victims, but retains the appropriate level of State flexibility in areas of program design and implementation.

Research and experience confirms that some abused women face extreme circumstances and will need special supports and considerations, such as domestic or sexual violence advocacy and services, or short- or long-term waivers/exemptions from welfare or work requirements or time limits. In addition, many battered women face multiple barriers to employment—lack of childcare, disabilities, housing instability, lack of health insurance, or lack of transportation may impede their ability to work. Some of these women also face mental health or substance abuse problems. Safe procedures, policies, and programs are essential for all these TANF/child support clients. Flexible responses are also needed to assist custodial parents to safely pursue child support whenever possible, and protect them when child support actions would place the mother or child at risk.

In light of these well-documented connections between domestic and sexual violence and welfare, we urge the Senate to ensure that all States, working collaboratively with domestic violence and sexual assault advocates, design and implement welfare policies and practices that enhance both safety and self-sufficiency for victims of domestic and sexual violence and others at risk for such violence.

Second, we ask that the Senate address our concerns about government-sponsored marriage promotion proposals.

As advocates for battered women and their children, we have serious and specific concerns about government marriage promotion proposals currently being debated in Congress. Some of these proposals can be modified to reduce harm; others by definition will place some women and children in increased economic or safety risk. We believe that the primary focus of TANF should be reducing poverty and providing families, whatever their structure, the economic resources and options they need to provide for the safety and well-being of all family members. We endorse public policies and programs that do not discriminate against families—and the children in those families—based on family structure.

One of our primary concerns is how government marriage promotion initiatives will target only those who voluntarily choose marriage and avoid becoming coercive. We remain unconvinced that marriage promotion programs are the best investment of TANF dollars. However, should such programs become a part of TANF over our objections, there are some protections that may minimize the harm.

We cannot make sure that these marriage promotion programs meet what we call a "do no harm" threshold, but there are clearly some steps Congress can take that would help (see the Fact Sheet on Family Violence for more details):

• Prohibit the use of financial incentives to promote marriage.
• Require consultation and collaboration with domestic violence experts.
• Require States and grantees to develop procedures to ensure informed and voluntary participation and to promote safety.
• Prohibit discrimination based on marital status.
• Limit any "family formation" funding to well-structured demonstration projects.

We look forward to the opportunity to work with you as you finalize your TANF reauthorization proposals.