[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E984-E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DEMOCRATIC SUBSTITUTE ON H.R. 4737

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES H. MALONEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 
4737 in its current form.
  The Republican bill provides strong work requirements, which I 
support. However, the bill is fatally flawed as it abandons families' 
needs to take care of their primary responsibility--their children. As 
I said during the debate on my related motion to recommit, this bill 
also imposes an unfair, unfunded mandate on the states--at a time when 
many of our states, including Connecticut, are experiencing significant 
budget deficits. Due to the lack of child care resources in the 
underlying bill, and the financial burden imposed on our states, I am 
unable to vote in favor of the work requirements I prefer.
  The Democratic Substitute would have provided the appropriate child 
care resources to allow parents to work full time. It is critically 
important that children are taken care of while their parents are at 
work. It is equally important, however, for parents to achieve full 
time

[[Page E985]]

employment that will allow families to become self-sustaining. Although 
the Democratic proposal strengthens current work requirements, the 
requirement is not sufficient. TANF families, given the necessary 
resources, should engage in full time employment like other working 
Americans. For this reason I cannot support the Democratic Alternative.

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