[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. TIERNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note the fact that 495 
Members of Congress have bachelor's degrees. It is interesting to note 
the fact that 127 Members of Congress have masters degrees. It is 
interesting to note the fact that 224 Members of Congress hold law 
degrees.
  The House is soon going to begin debate on reforming our welfare 
system. As we do so, I urge my colleagues to recognize the direct 
correlation between education and earning potential.
  What this Congress needs to do is to ensure that educational 
opportunities can count as work for at least 2 years for those 
individuals on welfare.
  That is why I, along with the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. 
Roukema), have introduced H.R. 4210, the Working From Poverty to 
Promise Act, which would, among other things, allow for expanded 
educational opportunities to count as work full-time for 24 months.
  In the long run, we need individuals to become independent with 
stable family lives, while also meeting the labor needs of our 
increasingly sophisticated economy. We can ill afford to be 
shortsighted in our reform by forcing people into low-wage jobs with no 
potential for advancement. That simply continues the cycle of 
dependency.
  The business community in my region has concluded that it too has 
benefited when people are prepared to work at a level adequate to 
fulfill the challenging and advanced positions and to make their 
companies profitable.
  Mr. Speaker, the President's plan which is embodied by the House 
majority would be much improved if amended to let welfare recipients 
have real opportunity through education and job training.

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