[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WISCONSIN WORKS WAIVER APPROVAL ACT

                                 ______


                               speech of

                            HON. PAT ROBERTS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 1996

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3562, a bill to 
authorize the State of Wisconsin to implement the demonstration project 
known as Wisconsin Works. Gov. Tommy Thompson is a recognized leader in 
the area of welfare reform. He, and other Governors across the United 
States, have worked diligently to improve the manner in which public 
assistance benefits are provided to our neediest citizens. However, 
they cannot do this without reducing the mandates of the Federal 
Government. Governor Thompson and other Governors need our help in 
getting relief from the heavy hand of Washington bureaucrats.
  The Federal waiver process is time consuming and States are pressured 
to drop certain waiver requests, thereby changing the design of State 
reforms. That is why we are here today.
  The bill before the House of Representatives today provides that 
relief to Wisconsin. The Federal waivers that are necessary to 
implement the Wisconsin Works Program are granted through this bill. 
The bill ensures that no additional cost will accrue to the Federal 
Government.
  The Wisconsin Works Program offers its participants the opportunity 
to earn wages and to learn how to increase their value to employers. 
Wisconsin has been testing various methods of reforming the welfare 
system for several years. Its other demonstration projects include, 
Work Not Welfare, Work First, Children First, and Pay for Performance. 
The consistent theme throughout all of these projects, and incorporated 
in the Wisconsin Works Program, is the expectation of personal 
responsibility and the goal of independence and a promising future for 
welfare participants.
  Governor Thompson's proposal for Wisconsin Works includes waivers 
applicable to the Food Stamp Program. As chairman of the Committee on 
Agriculture, which has responsibility for the Food Stamp Program, I 
certainly appreciate the need for reform of this program.
  The first hearing held when I became chairman of the Committee on 
Agriculture was on the Food Stamp Program. Our committee has developed 
a comprehensive reform of the program and it is incorporated in the 
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996. This reform 
emphasizes work for able-bodied persons, promotes real jobs with 
incentives, allows States to harmonize welfare programs with the Food 
Stamp Program, and curbs trafficking and fraud with increased 
penalties.

  The waivers to the Food Stamp Program incorporated in this bill 
provide Wisconsin the ability to match its program with the Food Stamp 
Program in the areas of certification, employment, and training 
programs and work requirements. Additionally, for those persons in the 
Wisconsin Works Program who also receive food stamps, food benefits 
will be provided in cash. The Wisconsin program includes a mandatory 
nutrition education program. Wisconsin believes that for its 
participants to become self-sufficient, they need to know how to budget 
for food purchases, without the parameters specified by the use of food 
coupons. Wisconsin estimates that approximately half of the families 
receiving food stamps will be provided cash instead of food stamps.
  I am not generally in favor of substituting cash for food stamp 
benefits. One of the important tenets of our welfare reform proposal 
was that food stamps would remain as the safety net program during the 
transition of reforming welfare. Food is a basic need and must be 
available to low-income families.
  I am encouraged the Wisconsin Works Program includes a mandatory 
nutrition education component so that families will receive education 
on how to budget funds to ensure good diets. In addition, the cash-out 
of food stamps is linked to a program with strong work requirements.
  USDA, over the years, has approved several demonstration programs 
that issue cash instead of food stamps and almost half of the States 
operate some form of a cash-out program. As with those other programs, 
I intend to watch the Wisconsin program so that we will know that 
Federal dollars provided for food are indeed spent on food.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support H.R. 3562 and the Wisconsin 
Works Program. The President has expressed support for the Wisconsin 
Works Program and Congressman Kleczka's substitute amendment, provided 
for in the rule, urges the administration to approve waivers necessary 
to allow Wisconsin to carry out its program.

                          ____________________