[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 15, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H2478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE TO WELFARE REFORM

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I note some degree of irony here. Just a 
few days ago on the floor of this Chamber, the House approved a massive 
repudiation of one of the Contract with America, the Gingrich 
Revolution, in terms of the Freedom to Farm Act. It was a massive 
welfare program for a few of the Nation's farmers in a few States. At 
the same time, Mr. Speaker, we are coming forward here today 
considering additions and changes to the welfare program that 
ironically are opposed by the majority of the Nation's Governors, 
Republican and Democrat alike. I am hopeful that there will be strong 
support for the efforts that have been offered by the Democrats, my 
colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), to be able to 
maintain flexibility, maintain approaches that work on the State level; 
and hopefully we will not continue the hypocrisy where we provide 
welfare for those who need it the least and have mean-spirited Federal 
intervention from the Federal level for those who actually need our 
help.

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