[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, WORKING TO PROHIBIT AMERICANS FROM 
                                 VOTING

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)


                       what welfare reform means

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I could not help but take 
issue with my colleague who has just spoken about what welfare means. I 
hope the Republicans understand that welfare reform means giving people 
an opportunity to bridge out of dependence with child care, with health 
care, with job training.
  There is not one of any of the individuals who are Americans who have 
said that welfare is the claim of their life. They want to be 
independent. It is a shame, however, that the welfare reform that our 
Republicans have tried to put forward simply says that we will abandon 
those, the least of our brothers and sisters.
  Mr. Speaker, let me offer, first of all, the tragedy of what is going 
on in the Committee on the Judiciary this morning. We in the Committee 
on the Judiciary, of high ideals and standards holding up the 
Constitution, are there now trying to deny those citizens who have come 
to this country and are citizens the lack of ability, if you will, to 
be able to express themselves by voting on the ballot.
  We want now to eliminate bilingual ballots for the U.S. Government 
for those senior citizens who have lived and worked here, those Asians, 
Hispanics, and others who have come, who have given of themselves, can 
speak the language, but may not be able to read as well so they can 
vote in the U.S. election.
  How tragic it is that we are turning the clock back, as well as 
denying minorities the opportunity to do business with the American 
Government. What a shame. What a tragedy.

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