[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 143 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S13578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I think earlier today we missed an 
opportunity. It seemingly went by unnoticed when an amendment was 
offered that addressed a very sensitive area and an essential element 
of welfare reform, and that is a recognition that it has become a 
snowballing effect that a family that has welfare problems, or is on 
the welfare rolls, quite often the next generation comes down and is 
also inflicted with this same problem.
  This was in the amendment offered by Senator Faircloth, No. 2609. I 
regret that it only received 17 votes on the floor of the Senate, and 
yet, I do recognize it is a very sensitive issue to deal with.
  We have become and found ourselves in a situation in this country 
where it is a welfare trap and snares not only current recipients, but 
their children as well. Young women who grow up in welfare families are 
more than twice as likely to receive welfare themselves as their 
counterparts whose parents received no welfare.
  I have three very short cases I will identify. These happen to come 
from the State of Oklahoma. They will only be identified by the 
individual's first names.
  There is Marie, a 43-year-old, has nine kids by five different 
fathers. The mother was on welfare for 30 years. Marie's own daughters 
are unwed teen mothers on welfare.
  Denise, 29 years old, had her first child at 16. She now has an 
additional four daughters, all born under the welfare system. Both her 
sisters are unwed welfare mothers with eight children.
  Jacqueline, 37 years old, a mother at 15. She was born to a welfare 
family of 12 children. Her unwed daughter had four illegitimate 
children by the time she was 20.
  Out-of-wedlock births and single parenthood are quickly becoming a 
normal lifestyle in this country. I am not sure that the Faircloth 
amendment was worded quite properly, but at least it did address a very 
serious problem that we are going to have to, sooner or later, address 
in this body.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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