[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CURRENT WELFARE SYSTEM IS CRUEL TO CHILDREN

  (Ms. DUNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DUNN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, over the last few days we have 
spent a great deal of time listening to opponents of the Republican 
welfare overhaul talking about how cruel this bill is to children. Mr. 
Speaker, let me tell you what cruelty is. Cruelty is the current 
welfare system that has wasted $5 trillion of taxpayer money and yet 
has failed to lift children from poverty.
  Cruelty is the current welfare system that condemns so many of these 
children to a life surrounded by crime and violence and lack of 
ambition.
  Cruelty is the current welfare system that condemns the children of 
these children to face the same circumstances in an endless cycle of 
poverty and hopelessness.
  Mr. Speaker, let me tell you what the most cruel and mean-spirited 
act of all is: It is the cruelty found in the current liberal 
opposition to our bill. The liberals in Congress built this current 
welfare system, the system is a failure.
  Today the Congress will overhaul this failed system and end cruelty 
to children.

                          ____________________