[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 2, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION TO STUDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

  (Mr. PETRI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing legislation to 
establish a commission to take a comprehensive look at assistance 
programs and ways to reduce the disincentives that result when they are 
phased out.
  Our task must be to help people move from subsidized jobs into self-
sufficiency. Current welfare and tax policies put up tremendous 
roadblocks to that goal, as each time a low-income worker increases his 
or her income, the Government takes all or most of the increase away.
  The miracle is that there are some who, perhaps out of pride, work 
their way out of this lower-income range. We must focus on this problem 
and look for solutions. The commission provided for in the legislation 
I am introducing today will help us do that, and I urge my colleagues 
to cosponsor this initiative.

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