[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AMERICANS WANT WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, welfare reform is something that the 
American people want. Both parties have promised to reform our current 
broken-down system, but I believe Republicans have delivered. This 
Republican Congress sent a strong welfare package to President Clinton, 
and he vetoed it.
  Today Republicans are going to try again. We are introducing a strong 
welfare reform bill that concentrates on family and individual 
responsibility. Our package lifts families out of the destructive 
welfare cycle of poverty and despair. It stresses work, and allows 
States the flexibility to design programs that fight their residents' 
needs.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that this time around the President keeps his 
promise and signs a strong welfare reform package. His record on this 
issue has not gone unnoticed by the American people. It is time to 
reform welfare. Let us do it now.

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