[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H9708]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PASSAGE OF WELFARE REFORM MARKS HISTORIC DAY FOR CONGRESS

  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a historic day 
for the U.S. Congress. The passage of the Gingrich-Dole Welfare Reform 
Act provides a dramatic shifting of the direction of the ship-of-state, 
a shift away from welfare, from a growing Federal bureaucracy and ever 
expanding Federal welfare spending.
  And as the ship turns, it will move toward less dependency upon 
Government, toward private opportunity and independence.
  The welfare reform effort passed yesterday was initiated by Speaker 
Newt Gingrich and majority leader Bob Dole. Speaker Gingrich and his 
committees crafted the bill and worked tirelessly for its passage. And 
only yesterday, Speaker Gingrich successfully got a commitment from 
President Clinton to sign it.
  So while Speaker Gingrich will share a piece of the credit for the 
Gingrich-Dole reform package with the President, yesterday will go down 
as a historic success for the new Republican majority in Congress.

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