[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday March 23, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4) to 
     restore the American family, reduce illegitimacy, control 
     welfare spending and reduce welfare dependence:

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Deal 
substitute to the Personal Responsibility Act.
  The Deal alternative, unlike the legislation before us, was crafted 
to make good on the promise of moving people from welfare to work. It 
ensures the welfare recipients will be better off economically be 
taking a job rather than staying on welfare.
  While the Republican welfare proposal offers no real resources for 
able-bodied recipients to find work, the Deal substitute engages each 
AFDC recipient in an individual responsibility plan detailing the ways 
in which he or she can find work and how the State can assist in this 
goal.
  This morning, the front page of the Washington Post told us that the 
Congressional Budget Office estimates that none of the States will be 
able to meet the Republican welfare proposal's work requirements. We 
see now that the Republican majority has given us a bill that is not 
only mean, but also completely unworkable.
  The Deal substitute works in partnership with State and local 
governments to ensure that special situations receive adequate 
resources and flexibility and that the goal of getting people off 
welfare into work can be met.
  Individuals can begin a job search with the assistance of a Work 
First program and resources for child care. They have the option of 
starting or continuing education. This plan acknowledges that, in order 
to get people to work and to keep working, we must assist them with 
their individual needs. No one situation is the same, and this 
substitute addresses that dilemma.
  Further, the Deal substitute explicitly states that all savings from 
the bill will be applied to deficit reduction, not to pay for tax cuts 
for the wealthy.
  And most importantly, the Deal substitute does not in any way attempt 
welfare reform at the expense of poor children.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Deal substitute. It 
is a realistic and responsible means by which to end the cycle of 
welfare dependency by focusing on work.


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