[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WE MUST FACE THE PROBLEM OF WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, you know, I have to respond to my 
colleague's comments there. You know, there are a lot of Johnnie-come-
latelies to this whole idea of welfare reform.
  For 30 years, liberal Democrats had the opportunity to reform the 
welfare system, and they punted.
  Well, it is time for us to make sure that it happens this year. We 
have been hearing the words ``cruel and mean-spirited,'' ``cruel and 
mean-spirited.'' Well, folks, it is wrong, wrong, wrong.
  When the nay-sayers make such outlandish charges, what they really 
are doing is defending the status quo. They are defending Government 
programs once intended to give a helping hand to the neediest 
Americans, but which instead have bred soaring out-of-wedlock births, 
violent crime, and more poverty, all at the expense of the American 
taxpayer.
  No responsible parent rewards irresponsible children with cash, free 
food, and an apartment, and the taxpayers should not either. Since the 
so-called Man from Hope would not face up to the problem, it is time 
for us to do so.
  Let us end welfare as we know it. Let us restore hope for all 
Americans. Let us pass the Personal Responsibility Act.


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