[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H1468-H1469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   COMMON SENSE AND YOUR TAX DOLLARS

  (Mr. KNOLLENBERG asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, last week Congressman Kolbe and I 
introduced the Common Sense Welfare Reform Act.
  The American people are frustrated with dependency-fostering federal 
welfare programs. They realize that the War on Poverty has failed and 
are demanding real welfare reform.
  Our bill turns the reins of welfare reform over to the people who pay 
the Federal Government's bills--the American taxpayers. We would allow 
each American to direct up to ten percent of their Federal taxes to 
charities engaged in fighting poverty instead of sending that money to 
Washington.
  [[Page H1469]] We believe that giving taxpayers the freedom to 
determine how their welfare dollars are spent will spur interest in 
antipoverty efforts and enhance the role of private charities. 
Replacing traditional self-help networks with Government checks has 
failed.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Federal Government to step aside and 
allow caring individuals and community based organizations to begin 
attacking poverty in a meaningful way.
  I urge my colleagues to take another bold step to change the way 
Government works and to cosponsor the Common Sense Welfare Reform Act.

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