[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 29, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  1415
                             WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. EHLERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I started political life as a county 
commissioner in Kent County, MI. We had a county welfare department 
that won a number of awards for providing better services at lower cost 
than most counties across the United States.
  But most of the programs that we instituted required a waiver from 
Washington, and we had to fight and kick and scream in order to get 
those waivers. I thought it strange that we would have to fight with 
the Federal Government in order to save them money.
  I went to the State legislature, and once again I got involved in 
battles at the State level requesting waivers from the Federal 
Government to improve the welfare program and to provide better 
services at less cost. Once again I thought it strange: Why should we 
have to fight the Federal Government to save taxpayers money?
  Now that I am here, I strongly support giving the States and local 
communities more to say about operating their welfare programs, because 
I am convinced that they can do a better job at less cost than we have 
with our current system. I applaud the Republicans in the House for 
introducing a bill which will bring that about and make it possible for 
us to save money for the people of this country.

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