Peoria Standard

Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois has been reappointed as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare for the 119th Congress. In addition to this role, he will continue his work with the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade.

“It is an honor to serve as the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare for the 119th Congress,” said Rep. LaHood. “Our subcommittee focuses on supporting some of the most vulnerable in society. I am dedicated to improving and strengthening child and family care while protecting United States taxpayer dollars. I look forward to working alongside Chairman Jason Smith, Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny Davis, and the rest of our colleagues to build on our bipartisan work last Congress and continue to pass critical pieces of legislation to help all Americans."

House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith praised LaHood's leadership: “Under Chairman LaHood, we enacted a first-in-a-generation reauthorization and modernization of our child welfare programs – helping to ensure vulnerable families and children have the resources they need to succeed.” He also highlighted past efforts such as holding a committee hearing in a homeless shelter focused on poverty alleviation policies. “In the days to come, we will advance reforms that improve the lives of millions of Americans, weed out fraud in our unemployment insurance program, and promote the dignity of work," Smith added.

This marks Congressman LaHood’s second consecutive term leading this subcommittee. During his previous term, he oversaw significant bipartisan reform in child welfare programs under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act. Notably, he conducted a field hearing in Chicago with other committee leaders titled “The Dignity of Work: Lifting Individuals Out of Poverty.”

The Subcommittee on Work and Welfare addresses various issues under the Social Security Act such as temporary assistance for needy families, childcare services, adoption support, supplemental security income among others. It also deals with federal-state unemployment compensation systems.