PUBLIC ASSISTANCE STANDARDS

WHEREAS, to quote Professor Paul H. Douglas, "A society is judged by its treatment of its least fortunate members;" and

WHEREAS, today, in the United States, the richest county in the world, there are over 34 million people living in desperate poverty, without enough food, clothing and shelter to sustain a minimum standard of health and decency; and

WHEREAS, among the poorest of the poor are the 8 million who depend on public assistance to remain alive; and

WHEREAS, public assistance is a basic and inalienable right of all in need, and not a privilege to be extended conditionally and condescendingly; and

WHEREAS, the economic situation of the millions of children depending on public assistance affects their education, and that of their classmates; and

WHEREAS, improvement in Public Assistance is essential to improvement of education among the least fortunate:

RESOLVED, that this Convention call upon Congress and the President to enact legislation to accomplish these goals:

• Establish a national standard for assistance payments (based on the City Worker's Budget proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor) under which no state can fall and continue to get federal funds;

• Eliminate the federal categories in public assistance, and include those people who are now in general assistance in the distribution of federal funds;

• In the interim, increase the present maximum rate of imbursement to all states for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program to a rate comparable with other federally aided categories ($50 out of the first $75 per person per month);

• Make a legal guarantee of financial assistance to all persons in need, a guarantee that invalidates the narrow restrictions imposed by many states (such as liens, residency, citizenship, and relative responsibility);

• Initiate steps toward establishing a national children's allowance similar to that of almost every western country; and

RESOLVED, that this Convention call upon the organized labor movement to aid in this campaign.