[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PROBLEMS OF TANF REAUTHORIZATION

  (Ms. WATSON of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support my 
Democratic colleagues in their approach to welfare reform. Voters 
overwhelmingly believe that expanding training opportunities that will 
help new people from welfare to good jobs should be a top priority of 
this Congress.
  The voting public supports a TANF reform agenda of expanded access to 
training, education and flexible time limits. The polling data 
demonstrates that 82 percent of Americans favor increasing funding for 
job training and child care. Mr. Speaker, this is what the Democratic 
proposal presents.
  The Republican proposals do not represent the voice of America or our 
welfare recipients. The one-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best 
unfunded mandates of Republican proposals will not work. We need to 
build upon the success of the past by increasing funding flexibility. 
We need to assist TANF recipients to get living wage jobs so that they 
have access to upward mobility.
  Mr. Speaker, the Democratic proposals will do just that.

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