AUGUSTA - Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, introduced a bill on Thursday before the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee to bolster Maines Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Meyer put forward the proposal in response to the state's rising number of children living in deep poverty.
"Child poverty isn't an individual problem. It has serious, long-term consequences for children, their families and the communities in which they live," said Meyer, who also serves as House chair of the committee. "Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to struggle in school and to struggle in the workforce as adults."
The bill would increase TANF's benefit levels for Maine families struggling to meet their basic needs due to various economic factors, including inflation and a reduction in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's (SNAP) benefits. The measure would increase monthly cash assistance and further bolster the programs training and employment support services.
Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that Maine provides the lowest grant level in New England. The maximum monthly benefit available to a family of three is $723 per month, which is less than 35% of the Federal poverty level, also known as "extreme" poverty. To compare, New Hampshire provides a benefit of $1,151 per month.
"It is time to modernize our TANF program," Meyer said. "This bill will align with the benefit levels of other states in the region and provide families with what they need to move beyond mere survival to get to a place where they can provide safety, stability and joy for themselves and their children."
The bill faces further action in committee in the coming weeks.
Rep. Meyer is the House chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and is serving her third term in the Maine House. She represents District 150, which includes Eliot and parts of Kittery and South Berwick.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Meyer], c. 305-965-2744