[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 134 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  COSPONSORSHIP OF S. 1120, AS AMENDED

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask that my name be added as a 
cosponsor to S. 1120, the Work Opportunity Act of 1995. I want to 
congratulate the distinguished Republican leader and his chief of staff 
for all the hard work and effort they have devoted to producing a 
welfare reform bill this year.
  Many years ago a distinguished professor wrote a book entitled: ``Why 
Welfare is so Hard to Reform.'' That was nearly 25 years ago. Reforming 
our welfare system has not gotten any easier over that time period as 
the Republican leader has surely discovered.
  Let me be clear, I know that there are issues that still have not 
been fully resolved in Leader Dole's bill. I continue to be concerned 
about some of those issues and during the upcoming recess I will meet 
with New Mexicans who have, like I, concerns about child care and other 
provisions in the bill. I reserve the right to recommend further 
changes to the bill and offer amendments to it when we begin 
consideration in September.
  But I support the major principles embodied in the leader's proposal 
and therefore am pleased to cosponsor the legislation today. I support 
first and foremost the principle that we must break the cycle of 
dependency in our current welfare system, and we should strive to help 
those who are trapped in this system break the bonds of dependency.
  I support the principle that States should be provided flexibility in 
designing programs that best serve needy individuals and families in 
their individual States.
  I support the principle that those who receive assistance should seek 
work and that employment of welfare recipients should increase 
significantly from the low levels that now exist in many States. I 
support the principle that States should be allowed to terminate 
benefits when those who are required to work--refuse work.
  I support the principle that single parents with young children 
should not be penalized if they are unable to find work and 
particularly if affordable child care services are not available to 
them. I support the principle that individuals seeking to better their 
lives through vocational education and training should be encouraged in 
their vocation in order to avoid dependency later in their lives.
  I support the principle that the Federal Food Stamp Program and 
School Lunch Program should continue as Federal entitlement programs so 
as to provide a basic nutrition safety net to all low-income families 
and their children.
  Finally, I believe that we can reform our welfare system based on 
these principles, protect those most in need of assistance, and at the 
same time do this while achieving some savings to hard-pressed State 
and Federal budgets. The Dole bill does all these things and at the 
same time begins a down payment on the Federal deficit. A Federal 
deficit that is the biggest sign of dependency and the biggest threat 
to the creation of jobs for all Americans--particularly the poor. We 
will not turn our backs on those down on their luck, but we will not 
give a handout when what is needed is a hand-up.
  Welfare reform is a contentious issue. What we do here needs to be 
done carefully, and that is why I have made recommendations to the 
leader and others to modify S. 1120 in ways that I think will improve 
it. I may have other recommendations once I meet with people in my 
State. But for today I congratulate the Republican leader and offer my 
support to reform the welfare system based on the broad principles 
encompassed in the Work Opportunity Act of 1995.


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