The American Jewish Congress announced today its support of efforts in the Senate and House to restructure the welfare system but warned that reform must be accompanied by other measures to assure every American "a decent standard of living and a fair opportunity to share in the abundance of this nation." In a resolution adopted at a meeting of its Governing Council, the Congress praised the Nixon Administration’s Family Assistance Bill as "a serious attempt to cope with some of the inadequacies of the present welfare system, which is often punitive and degrading as well as ineffective." However, the resolution stated, the administration bill "falls substantially short of what can be regarded today as a satisfactory plan for welfare." In addition, the resolution stated, other measures must be taken to include: "Strengthened programs of social security, unemployment, hospital and health insurance; higher federal minimum wage standards; and more vigorous efforts to root out discrimination in employment, education and housing." The AJ Congress statement said the organization’s concern for welfare reform was based on "the social and religious tradition of the Jewish people."
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
