[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PRESIDENT MUST HONOR HIS COMMITMENT AND SIGN WELFARE REFORM MEASURE

  (Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SEATRAND. Mr. Speaker, on May 18 during his weekly radio 
address, President Bill Clinton said the following: ``There are 
bipartisan welfare reform plans sitting in the House and the Senate. 
They require welfare recipients to work, they limit the time people can 
stay on welfare, they toughen child support enforcement, and they 
protect our children. So I say to Congress, send me a bill that honors 
these fundamental principles. I will sign it right away.''
  Mr. Speaker, the time has come for President Clinton to keep the 
commitments he makes to this institution. He has repeatedly misled this 
body into believing he wants to reform welfare. The time has come to 
either put up or shut up. This week the House will consider the very 
same welfare reform measure President Clinton said he would sign. For 
the future of this country, for all the young men and women caught in 
the endless cycle of poverty and dependency, for all the children who 
need strong families and safe neighborhoods, I hope that the President 
honors his word.

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