[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 108 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1337-E1338]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3734, WELFARE AND MEDICAID REFORM 
                              ACT OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 17, 1996

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3734, the 
Balanced Budget Welfare Reform Act, a bill designed to overhaul our 
Nation's welfare system. Fifteen months ago, many of my colleagues and 
I stood before this body and showed our staunch disagreement with the 
House-passed welfare reform bill which made disastrous cuts in our 
Nation's welfare programs. I wish I could say that, since then, some 
compassion and reason had been interjected into this debate and 
produced a more favorable bill for consideration.
  Unfortunately, H.R. 3734, the bill being deliberated today, targets 
the poorest in this country, in order to meet Republican budget 
priorities. When we examine the provisions of this legislation, it is 
abundantly clear that our colleagues have reneged on their commitment 
to ensure a ``family friendly'' Congress and to protect our Nation's 
children.
  H.R. 3734 slashes more than $61 billion over 6 years in welfare 
programs. This bill guts funding for the Food Stamp Program, cuts into 
the SSI protections for disabled children, drastically cuts child 
nutrition programs, and slashes benefits for legal immigrants. Mr. 
Speaker, I find these reductions in quality of life programs appalling.
  How can my Republican colleagues praise this bill's work requirements 
when H.R. 3734 provides inadequate funding for education, training, and 
employment--essential components in contributing to longevity in the 
workforce? How can they stand by a bill that slashes more than $3 
billion in funding for meals to children in child care centers and 
homes? As if that were not devastating enough, this bill would cut 
nearly $23 billion over 6 years from the Food Stamp Program and an 
additional $23 billion in the SSI Program.
  H.R. 3734 sends a signal to the Nation that our Government leaders 
place a very low priority on those individuals who have very little. In 
Cuyahoga County, we have a 20 percent poverty rate in a county of 1.4 
million people. In the city of Cleveland, it is an alarming 42 percent. 
Throughout Cuyahoga County, more than 228,000 people receive food 
stamps. Many of these individuals constitute America's working poor. 
This punitive welfare measure will undoubtedly endanger their health 
and well-being.
  Mr. Chairman, I can understand and support a balanced and rational 
approach to addressing the reform of our Nation's welfare system.

[[Page E1338]]

But I cannot and will not support this legislation which would shatter 
the lives of millions of our Nation's poor. In order to move people to 
self-sufficiency, we must provide adequate education, training, child 
care, and jobs that pay a livable wage. Anything short of that does 
great disservice to our national sense of compassion and our moral 
responsibility to help the poor help themselves.
  On behalf of America's children and the poor, I urge my colleagues to 
vote against H.R. 3734.

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