Gov. Perry Announces $19.9 Million Federal Bonus For Texas

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced that Texas has been awarded $19.9 million from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department for achieving one of the nation’s largest decreases in out-of-wedlock births.

“This is more evidence that our health and human service agencies are doing an excellent job,” Perry said. “We are improving services and making a real difference in people’s lives while using taxpayer dollars in the most effective and efficient way possible.”

The federal welfare reform law of 1996 authorizes annual bonuses for states with the largest reductions in the proportion of out-of-wedlock births to total births. Texas was one of six recipients of this year’s bonus payments, which can be used for any Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

The out-of-wedlock birth rate fell 1.9 percent in Texas between 1998 and 2001, and the abortion rate has decreased since 1995. This is the second straight year Texas has received the federal bonus.