[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 40 (Friday, March 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2587-H2588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WELFARE REFORM

  (Mrs. VUCANOVICH asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include 
extraneous material.)
  [[Page H2588]] Mrs. VUCANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, why do we call it 
welfare? Under the current welfare system, people do not fare well--not 
at all.
  Our current system has created a number of welfare addicts, some who 
will do anything to stay on the public dole. Congress must intervene 
with some tough love which will stop the addiction and create a more 
useful, caring society. The welfare plan which is being put forth by 
the Republicans is the only proposal which has offered people on 
welfare a chance to improve their lives.
  While opponents have termed this proposal mean-spirited, it is 
nothing of the kind. Under the legislation, spending for school meals 
will increase by 4 percent next year, work training will be offered in 
exchange for benefits, and abuses of the system will be eliminated. 
What is mean-spirited is an administration which keeps feeding the 
addiction of individuals who cannot help themselves because they are 
trapped. The Republican proposal offers people an opportunity to break 
the addiction.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress and the American public to say 
farewell to our current welfare system so that people in our Nation may 
actually fare well.


                          ____________________