On Tuesday, NFL Hall of Famer and Mississippian Brett Favre revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as he testified in front of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee in Washington, D.C.
Favre’s appearance comes as the committee eyes reform that would curb misspending of welfare funds by state governments. The former Southern Miss quarterback has been entangled in controversy over the last three years after allegedly being paid over a million dollars in speaking fees through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which he has since repaid, along with an ongoing lawsuit filed by the state centered around the misspending of $77 million in TANF funds.
The former Green Bay Packer explained that his health issues going back to his playing days were part of his motivation to become connected with TANF, as well as work with his own charity organization among others.
“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others,” Favre testified. “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.”
The Kiln native has consistently maintained his innocence, as he did again on Tuesday in front of members of Congress. He went on to claim that top Mississippi officials “failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse” and says other officials are “unjustifiably” trying to blame him for the fraud.
“I urge Congress to put TANF guardrails in place to ensure that what happened in Mississippi doesn’t happen again,” Favre said at the conclusion of his opening statement. “I urge Congress to pass the TANF reforms, including 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.”
