FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: STATE REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD FOR EMPOWERING MISSISSIPPIANS TO RETURN TO WORK
AWARD HONORS LEADERSHIP ON WELFARE REFORMS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF DEPENDENCY
Mississippi Rep. Dennis DeBar was honored with the Foundation for Government Accountability’s 2015 Defender of Opportunity Award Monday for his leadership in the state to reform the welfare system and empower residents to return to the workforce.
DeBar sponsored legislation in Mississippi to ensure work requirements and asset tests for food stamps programs remained in place without express legislative approval, with the goal of protecting the state’s safety net for the truly needy. Strong partnerships with the FGA and leaders like DeBar have helped save 8 million Americans from dependence on government welfare, while saving taxpayers around the country half a trillion dollars.
“Our social safety nets play a vital role in keeping our communities strong, and Representative DeBar led the charge to break the cycle of welfare dependency and empower Mississippians to enjoy the pride of meaningful work,” said Tarren Bragdon, FGA CEO.
“Work requirements have broad bi-partisan support, even from those on welfare, as people recognize the best way out of poverty isn’t through dependency, but through a good job, and asset tests ensure we are saving our limited resources for the most vulnerable.”
DeBar is one of a handful of state leaders being recognized from around the country for their work in 2015, and they are the first group of legislators to be honored with this annual award.
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