[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          REFORMING THE WELFARE SYSTEM ``NO STRINGS ATTACHED''

                                 ______


                     HON. RICHARD ``DOC'' HASTINGS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 7, 1995
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation aimed at reforming our failed Federal welfare system. 
Reforming welfare is among my top priorities and is supported by a 
majority of the American people.
  The time for reform has come. Since 1965 we have spent $5 trillion on 
the War on Poverty--yet the poverty rate is higher today than it was 
then. The current welfare system has failed both the people it was 
created to help and those whose tax dollars support it. It is a 
bureaucratic nightmare and it offers the wrong incentives for 
recipients. It fosters illegitimacy and dependency, rather than strong 
families and economic independence. We must act now to enact 
fundamental and far reaching change.
  I believe the most important change Congress can make would be to 
allow States and local communities the flexibility to find creative 
solutions and determine who should be eligible to receive benefits. The 
legislation I am introducing empowers States and local communities by 
shifting the responsibility for welfare to the States in a single block 
grant--with no strings attached.
  I repeat: no strings attached. This isn't just a swap for government 
control of Medicaid or other assistance programs--it strictly empowers 
the States and local communities to address the problem in the most 
effective manner possible. No additional mandates would be imposed on 
the States. Finally, Federal funding will be reduced by 5 percent per 
year and will be phased out completely in 20 years.
  The States have proven themselves to be more successful than the 
Federal Government in dealing with welfare and developing innovative 
and effective solutions. States better understand the problems within 
their own communities and can more efficiently determine who should be 
eligible to receive benefits.
  Consider, for example, Wisconsin. Governor Tommy Thompson's welfare 
reform proposal has reduced State welfare rolls by 25 percent and saved 
the taxpayers $16 million per month. In Michigan, Governor John Engler 
requires that welfare recipients sign a social contract agreeing to 
work, receive job training, or volunteer at least 20 hours a week. In 
just 2 years, the plan has helped almost 50,000 welfare recipients gain 
independence, and welfare caseloads have fallen to their lowest level 
in 7 years, saving the taxpayers $100 million.
  The urgent need for reform--particularly welfare reform--was 
exemplified during the November elections. It is time for the 
Government to return control to the States. My proposal to shift the 
power to the local level is ambitious--yet it is only at the local 
level that the most effective solutions and most efficient answers will 
be found.


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