[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COMMONSENSE WELFARE REFORM

  (Mrs. SEASTRAND asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SEASTRAND. Mr. Speaker, when President Bill Clinton says that 
the welfare system is broken, he's absolutely right. Every year, the 
Government spends more and more money on welfare.
  Today, Government spends 1,600 percent more on welfare than they did 
in 1950 while the population of this country has only increased 72 
percent.
  Mr. Speaker, it all boils down to common sense.
  Common sense tells us that welfare has been a colossal failure--as 
President Clinton says, the system is broken. Common sense also tells 
that money is simply not the answer--welfare may give people money but 
it takes away something far more precious.
  It is now time for this Government to exercise a little common sense 
of its own. Congress will soon give the President a genuine welfare 
reform package. It is real; it is common sense; and it honors the basic 
values of work, family, and personal responsibility.
  We hope that Bill Clinton will do the right thing and sign 
commonsense welfare reform.

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