[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 15, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WELFARE REFORM OFFERS SELF-SUFFICIENCY

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, with the passage of welfare 
reform back in 1996, we moved from a welfare system that bred 
dependency to one that offers self-sufficiency, and probably even more 
important, allowing those individuals to regain some of their self-
respect. Rather than just being given something for nothing, now they 
are working.
  Since 1996, Michigan, like the Nation, has reduced its welfare 
caseload by 60 percent. I have been inspired and encouraged by the many 
success stories in my congressional district of individuals going from 
welfare to work. Darryl Grubbs is one, and Kendra Norton is another 
that I have met with whose lives have been turned around thanks to the 
encouragement of the 1996 welfare reform. These people now have a 
better life for themselves, and very importantly, better lives for 
their kids. They tell me that their children are now more proud of 
their parents, that they are actually doing better in school than they 
did when they were on welfare.
  In conclusion, as the House takes up welfare reauthorization, we 
should be continuing a system that helps people. I urge Members to make 
a good program even better by supporting this bill today.

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