Church of Scientology endorses legislation to allow people with certain drug-related convictions to temporarily receive welfare benefits

[ISNOINews]

Church of Scientology endorses legislation to allow people with certain drug-related convictions to temporarily receive welfare benefits.

More precisely the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office endorses the Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020.

The Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020 would temporarily waive section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, 21 U.S. Code § 862a, as applied to the TANF and SNAP programs. The waiver would expire on December 31, 2022.

As indicated above, Section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is codified at 21 U.S. Code § 862a:

21 U.S. Code § 862a - Denial of assistance and benefits for certain drug-related convictions

Section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 19 currently requires denial of TANF and SNAP assistance and benefits to people with certain drug-related convictions.

TANF = Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It is a federal assistance program that succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families through the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP is a federal program that helps millions of low-income Americans put food on the table.

In summary, by waiving section 115 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the proposed legislation supported by the CSNAO would allow people who have certain drug-related convictions to receive SNAP and TANF assistance and benefits until December 31, 2022.

In other words the legislation supported by the CSNAO would make it easier for people to receive welfare.

I do not understand how this is consistent with the Scientology policy against "rewarding the down statistic," but this is now an official legislative priority of the Church of Scientology.


Legislation | The Justice Roundtable

 

[ISNOINews]

Here is a story about the proposed legislation which links to the same list of endorsers, including the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office.

Congress Must Lift Lifetime Felony Drug Ban on SNAP and TANF During COVID-19 Pandemic


Congress Must Lift Lifetime Felony Drug Ban on SNAP and TANF During COVID-19 Pandemic


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WASHINGTON - In response to the introduction of the Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020 (H.R. 7196)--legislation that would lift a lifetime federal ban on individuals with felony drug convictions from receiving SNAP and TANF assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic--by Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and co-sponsored by 35 other members of Congress, Grant Smith, Deputy Director of the Office of National Affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance, released the following statement:

[SNIP]

The “Removing Barriers to Basic Needs Act of 2020” has been endorsed by more than 50 civil rights, reentry, public health and faith-based organizations at the national and state level including the American Bar Association, Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, NAACP and National Council of Churches. See complete endorsement list here.

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