[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          REINVENTING WELFARE

  (Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Speaker, reinventing welfare has been tried six 
times. The result: More and more spending, less and less results.
  Today we will decide whether we want so-called reinvented welfare or 
whether we want fewer individuals on the cruel cycle of government 
dependence. Today, we decide if we believe those in our local 
communities know better how to help their own communities or whether 
Washington knows best. Today we decide between ending the welfare 
entitlement mentality or spending more money to perpetuate the current 
cruel welfare state.
  Those of us who are ready to end the failed liberal welfare system 
have to stand up and cast a tough vote. The defenders of the current 
welfare state will accuse us of being cruel, not acknowledging that the 
current system turns welfare clients into its victims. Our vote will 
begin the process of changing a cruel welfare system into a system of 
hope, independence and opportunity based on the dignity of work and 
personal responsibility. We must act today.

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