[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 40 (Friday, March 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           REFORM THE SYSTEM

  (Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for one minute.)
  Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Speaker, we are entering one of the most 
difficult debates about fundamental reform in our Nation's history. 
Through perverse incentives, our Government has created a morally 
corrupt welfare state that discourages work and subsidizes 
illegitimacy. The welfare system is a tragic failure.
  This debate is not about saving money, it is about saving family and 
the next generation. It is not about more spending, it is about more 
sincerity. It is not about stopping payments, it is about stopping 
poverty. It is not about an election cycle, it is about the dependency 
cycle. This is the greatest country the world has ever known. After 30 
years and $5 trillion of failure, we can--we must--do better.
  We have a plan we will be debating soon on the floor of the House 
that sets out to end incentives that promote self-destructive behavior. 
This plan has a vision for ending the welfare state, the Clinton plan 
offer only a mirage. We must work with compassion and common sense to 
end a system that has hurt the very people the very families we have 
set out to help.

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