[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 130 (Tuesday, September 25, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1657-E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DISAPPROVING RULE RELATING TO WAIVER AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY WITH 
     RESPECT TO THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 
118, the Election-Year Partisan Welfare Resolution. This political 
stunt--based entirely on untruths--is a futile attempt to distort the 
Administration's position in order to score political points.
  As independent fact-checkers and experts have resoundingly stated, 
the Administration's proposal to help states move more people from 
welfare to work does nothing to undermine the 1996 Welfare Reform law. 
The HHS notice emphasizes that these waivers must improve the 
employment of welfare recipients. Governors must ensure that their 
proposals will move at least 20 percent more people from welfare to 
work. These are the facts.
  This strategy, which provides States more flexibility to help get 
people back to work, is sound policy that cuts red tape and can 
increase the efficiency of the welfare system. For this reason, two 
Republican governors requested that HHS offer these waivers. 
Additionally, the GOP-led House found it unobjectionable enough to pass 
legislation allowing welfare waivers in 2002, 2003, and 2005.
  House Republicans are today wasting precious legislative time that 
should be spent passing the President's jobs plan, extending middle-
class tax cuts, and addressing the fiscal cliff to prevent the 
disastrous effects of sequestration. Instead, they decided to again put

[[Page E1658]]

politics before the American people by accusing the Administration of 
doing something that it is simply not doing.
  I urge my colleagues to vote no on this legislation.

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