In February 2014, SF 2251 passed the Iowa Senate 48 - 0. This bill allows for school and work requirements to be combined for child care assistance. It also allows for extension of eligibility from 6 months to 12 months. It now moves on to the Iowa House of Representatives.
Child Care Assistance is not welfare. It enables low-income parents to work and go to school so they can get a better job. Child Care Assistance is an effective tool to get families off of public assistance, so it is a a program that saves taxpayer dollars in the long run. This bill also ensures assistance is not taken away within months of starting work, which can force families to leave their jobs because they cannot afford child care.
Please sign my petition asking the Iowa Legislature and Governor Branstad to pass SF 2251 and give more families the help they need to work and support their families.
The full bill text is available at:
http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=SF2251
