[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5307-H5308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRESS SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES MAKE ENDS MEET

  (Mr. BLUNT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, we are here today as part of an effort to 
really help working families. We need to work together. There are 
people on both

[[Page H5308]]

sides of the aisle that want to help working families. Let us not get 
confused by the calculations that are being used to determine whether 
people are rich or not.
  We know whether people work or not, we know whether they pay taxes or 
not. Americans would be amazed to find out that the calculations that 
are being used to determine their wealth include the rental value of 
their home. If they own their home or are making payments on their 
home, the payment on their home is less than their home would rent for. 
Suddenly, they get a big rental value added to their income. Those 
things that their employer may have given them as benefits are added to 
their income.
  More than half of the family incomes of teachers, of construction 
workers, of mechanics would be classified as rich if we calculate 
family income the way the White House wants to. We cannot do that.
  Let us be fair, let us work with each other, let us help working 
families make ends meet.

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