[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     LOOKING FORWARD TO A SOCIETY WHERE ALL CARRY THEIR OWN WEIGHT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Franks] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day 
when we as Members of Congress are not debating the virtues or faults 
of block grants and entitlements for food and nutrition programs, 
housing, or child care programs. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day 
when people and their families and/or their extended families are 
carrying their own weight totally.
  I look forward to living in a society, Mr. Speaker, where no one 
receives something that they have not earned, a society where people 
work for money and people support their children. I think our Founding 
Fathers would be amazed that we would be discussing concepts so basic 
for able-bodied men and women. For most Americans, if we do not work, 
we do not get paid.
  The Bible says ``You will reap what you sow.'' The Bible also says 
``God helps those that help themselves.'' However, thanks to our 
current welfare system, these statements are not true.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day that if one is given something 
without working or paying for it, it would be deemed as a loan that 
would be paid back, not a bottomless pit of money distributed with no 
strings attached.
  I realize, Mr. Speaker, that everyone hits bumps in the road, and 
there should be ways to assist people at such times. However, when this 
happens, people should be willing or forced to take a job, work for the 
State temporarily, or get a welfare loan that would be paid back or 
worked off.
  Block grants or entitlements, people should be merely entitled to an 
opportunity to succeed. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day 
when the word ``welfare'' is used as frequently as the word 
``dinosaur.''


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