Mississippi's welfare scandal was at the center of a congressional hearing on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families reform Tuesday. Brett Favre was among the witnesses testifying in front of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Favre, a Mississippi native and former NFL quarterback from Southern Miss, became the subject of national public scrutiny in 2020 when the Mississippi Department of Human Services released an audit alleging more than $94 million in the state's TANF money was misallocated.
The audit alleges Favre received more than $1 million for speeches he did not give. Additionally, $5 million allegedly went to the construction of a volleyball arena at Favre's alma matter with his involvement.
"When this started, I didn't know what TANF was. Now I know TANF is one of the country's most important welfare programs to help people in need," Favre said in his Tuesday testimony.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer is one of more than 40 people the state of Mississippi has sued, demanding the repayment of the diverted funds. Favre has not been criminally charged.
Favre has since repaid the more than $1 million in speaking fees. Mississippi Auditor Shad White has said Favre still must repay the interest off that $1.1 million. Favre has not been charged criminally but has been named in a civil complaint.
On Tuesday, the House Ways and Means Committee gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss TANF reform. Favre served as one of four witnesses alongside Foundation for Government Accountability Policy Director Sam Adolphsen and American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi Executive Director Jarvis Dortch.
The fourth witness was Matt Underhile, a Stoddard County Sheriff's Office shift supervisor in Bloomfield, Missouri. Underhile represented a successful story showing how TANF can help a family escape poverty.
What is TANF?
The TANF program began in 1996 as a way to aid families in need, specifically families who cannot support basic needs. The block grants from the TANF program are allocated by the states.
Over the past three decades, many have called for TANF reform due to its lack of restrictions giving way to misuse.
Favre calls for reform, claims no knowledge of TANF funds
Tuesday's hearing began with oral testimonies in which each of the four witnesses received five minutes to speak to the committee.
Favre maintained he had no knowledge of welfare money diverted to fund various projects in which he was involved. Before the diversion of funds was brought to light, Favre said, he had never heard of TANF funds.
"Throughout my (football) career, there were many highs and lows," Favre said. "Those lows helped me find out who I really am. They taught me to persevere, overcome challenges and succeed. But, the challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years because certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TNAF funds from fraud and abuse and are unjustifiably trying to blame me — those challenges hurt my good name and are worse than anything I faced in football."
During his testimony, Favre, 54, revealed he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis, he said, has reinforced his belief in TANF reform.
More on Favre's diagnosis: Brett Favre reveals Parkinson's diagnosis during congressional hearing
"Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others," Favre said. "And, I'm sure you'll understand while it's too late for me because I've recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's, this is also a cause dear to my heart."
Committee Member and California Congresswoman Linda Sánchez asked Favre directly if he has paid the interest on the misallocated funds, to which he replied, "No, I have not."
Committee members discuss possible solutions
Throughout the hearing, Mississippi repeatedly served as an example of the misuse of TANF funds. Witnesses and committee members used Mississippi's welfare scandal to highlight the weak points in TANF.
Several possible approaches to TANF reform were discussed Tuesday.
The majority of the committee agreed the main issues regarding TANF misuse is due to a lack of guardrails and a lack of transparency.
In other words, the flexibility of TANF legislation easily allows misuse of federal funds like the diversion seen in Mississippi's welfare scandal.
When asked about possible reform, Adolphsen suggested implementing increased oversight on TANF spending.
"You don't want to undermine that flexibility entirely," Adolphsen said. "It's all about putting up those guardrails. There's too much discretion left up to state auditors right now to hear from a whistleblower in order to look at the program, and it's sporadic when the program gets checked."
More in state news: Mississippi school grades are in for 2023-2024. See the scores here
What's next?
Tuesday's discussion has no practical effects without legislation to implement the suggested solutions.
Favre ended his testimony with a plea to Congress to pass bills regarding TANF reform.
"I urge Congress to put TANF guardrails in place to ensure that what happened in Mississippi doesn't happen again," Favre said. "I urge Congress to pass the TANF reforms included in the committee member bills — reforms designed to target funds to those truly most in need, to help low-income Americans find and keep a job, to limit how states can spend TANF grants and reduce wasteful bureaucracy and to protect taxpayer funds from fraud and abuse."
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 'I didn't know what TANF was': Brett Favre testifies before Congress about MS welfare scandal
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