[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SLOUCHING TOWARD A WELFARE STATE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, it is sobering to know that American 
exceptionalism is only a few degrees away from extinction. It should 
never be that way.
  One of the greatest threats we face as a Nation is the creation of a 
welfare state and, subsequently, the mentality that is bred by one.
  It seems that many have forgotten the simple principle that Americans 
have always abided by: Here, we work to earn our keep. Over the course 
of the last 9 months, that principle has become lost.
  It is evident that America is no longer slouching toward socialism; 
we are standing on its doorstep. We are much better than this as a 
country.
  The welfare-without-work expansions that are being proposed by the 
majority are dangerous. One of those expansions is the child tax credit 
that bears no work requirements for recipients.
  Twenty-five years ago, Republicans and Democrats came together to 
reform America's welfare system. It was a bipartisan effort through and 
through. But if you fast-forward to today, the majority has ignored the 
spirit of that agreement in favor of their own distorted agenda.
  Simply put, the majority has turned the child tax credit into a cash-
for-kids handout. Remember, the recipients of this handout are not 
required to work to receive it.
  Just last week, President Biden admitted during a CNN townhall that 
he opposes a work requirement. Keep in mind that members of the 
President's own party, such as Senator Manchin, are advocating for a 
work requirement.
  The University of Chicago recently published a study showing how 
expanding the child tax credit disincentivizes work. In fact, it would 
lead to an exodus of 1.5 million workers from the workforce. America 
simply can't afford that.
  When you consider the loss of 1.5 million workers and the abysmal 
jobs reports that have come out this year, it is clear that something 
is wrong. The labor force participation rate plummeted last month to 
61.6 percent. The last time the labor force participation rate was 61.6 
percent was in April of 1976.
  There are roughly 3 months left in 2021, and at this pace America is 
on track to fall right off the cliff and onto the rocks below. That is 
the cost of government dependency. That is the cost of providing a 
steady stream of other taxpayer checks that pay more to sit at home 
than to work.
  Pitting Main Street businesses against government-led benefits won't 
build the economy back. It won't get Americans back to work, and it 
certainly won't steer our great country to brighter and better days.
  American exceptionalism is not built by welfare or sitting at home 
collecting a check. It is built by everyday people who show up at work 
and get the job done. If that fundamental principle is lost, then 
America will be lost as well.
  There is no denying that America is standing on socialism's doorstep. 
Look at the state our country is in because of the majority's failed 
policies and what could come down the line.
  Government dependency robs this great country and its citizens of 
unparalleled opportunity. The majority has steered us in that 
direction, and the American people should be downright fearful.

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