House Bill 993 Isn’t About Fixing or Expanding the System...
It’s About RESPECTING People
Who Need Human Services.
House Bill 993, changing the name of the Department of Public Welfare is about respect. It’s
about calling something what it truly is — Human Services.
When 98 percent of the Department of Welfare’s funding and programs focus on human services while only 2 percent goes to welfare… it’s time to change the name.
The Campaign for What Works and its statewide coalition partners are asking the State
Senate Appropriations Committee to pass HB 993 without amendments. HERE’S WHY:
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It’s about respect — Pennsylvanians of all walks of life need help at some point:
Grandmothers on a fixed income needing nursing home care; brothers and sisters
with an intellectual disability; sons and daughters in the grips of a crippling addiction; or mothers and their children escaping violence. They need Human Services,
not welfare!
It’s about being accurate — When a department spends 98 percent of its money
providing human services and only 2 percent for welfare, why would we call it
something it’s not? Pennsylvania is the only state that still has a Department of
Public Welfare.
It’s about what consumers want and deserve — Listen to Jennifer Howell,
Marisa Niwa, and many others. They don’t want welfare. They want human services so they can live productive, meaningful lives, and yes, pay taxes.
It’s about unifying our leaders not dividing them — Changing the name of the
Department of Public Welfare has been one of the most bipartisan, strongly supported initiatives in recent memory. The Governor (along with five of his predecessors) supports it. DPW Secretary Mackereth (along with six of her predecessors)
supports it. All four caucus leaders support it. One hundred thirty five members —
Republican and Democrats — in the state House support it. And 39 state senators
co-sponsored name change legislation.
Jennifer Howell,
Lancaster County
“Changing negative
perceptions and stereotypes is something
I feel very strongly
about… Human services are not welfare.
Without human
services I’d be forced to
live in a nursing home,
and could not work.”
It’s about not costing taxpayers — The bill is written so that taxpayers won’t
spend an additional dime to change the name. For example: stationery will be
changed when supplies run out, and the name will be changed in computers when
regular software upgrades are needed.
It’s about passing, not stopping a bill — Leaders in the State Senate and the
House agree that amendments to HB 993 will make changing the name of DPW
harder, not easier. The amendments should be able to stand on their own and not
negatively impact a bill that has broad bipartisan support and is needed now.
THE NAME “DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES”
WORKS FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
www.campaignforwhatworks.org
Marisa Niwa,
Allegheny County
“I have worked at
Giant Eagle for 13
years. I pay taxes. I
hope to move into an
apartment with my
friends. I do not need
welfare, but I need
some services.”