Posted: | May 31, 2017 04:26 PM |
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From: | Representative Aaron D. Kaufer |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Welfare Reform - Residency Verification Interstate Compact Act |
We live in a country today where we are free to move from one state to another. For those receiving welfare benefits the reason may be for the promise of a better economic future. However, problems arise when recipients continue to collect the same benefits in multiple states. A report issued by the Auditor General last year, showed that 15,000 people receiving benefits spent $22 million in other states over a three-year period. Over $14 million was spent in Florida, mostly during the winter months. Because I believe states are in a better position to understand their own abilities and needs for detecting dual participation recipients, I will be introducing legislation to establish an Interstate Compact with surrounding states. The purpose for the Compact is to ensure an individual is receiving only the benefits from the state in which they are entitled. Congress must grant the authority to states to establish such a Compact; therefore, I will be introducing a resolution asking Congress to grant consent to states to establish the residency verification interstate compact. Various states employ different approaches to detecting welfare fraud, including the mandated Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS); however, states need the ability to establish a prevention approach from the onset of the application for benefits to prevent dual participation and overpayment. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation. |