Rep. Dan Howell is presented an award by Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability
Tennessee State Rep. Dan Howell has been honored by the Foundation for Government Accountability. The award presentation took place on Oct. 10, at the FGA annual Solutions Summit in Ft. Myers, Fl.
FGA President and CEO Tarren Bragdon presented the award while acknowledging Rep. Howell’s legislative efforts to end welfare fraud in Tennessee.
Rep.
Howell’s Program Integrity Act (HB 227) passed the Tennessee House of Representatives on Feb. 27. It was carried in the Senate by Senator Kerry Roberts.
“It is extremely important that we maintain the integrity of the Welfare and Food Stamp Programs,” Rep. Howell said. “This is an important safety net for those Tennesseans who may have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand. Those who fraudulently abuse the system are destroying that safety net and should be caught and prosecuted.”
HB 227 provides for “enhanced verification” which includes additional tools that allow the Tennessee Department of Health and SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) to cross-reference several existing data bases to determine an applicant’s eligibility. This includes the Death Registry, IRS, Department of Labor, Tennessee Lottery and several others. The departments may also investigate joining a multi-state clearing house to ensure applicants are not “double dipping” by collecting benefits from other states.
“These programs will enable Tennessee to identify and prosecute those individuals who commit welfare fraud, waste and abuse,” Mr. Bragdon said. “FGA appreciates Representative Howell’s work to preserve these valuable resources for the most vulnerable Tennesseans.”
“I am grateful to the FGA for the award and to Senator Roberts for working to pass the bill in the Senate” Rep. Howell said. “The Foundation for Government Accountability provided invaluable assistance and input in the successful passage of the bill.”
The FGA is considered by many to be one of the nation’s leading conservative public policy organizations which has assisted in passing reforms in 34 states.