[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             WELFARE REFORM

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in the House have been leading 
the charge on the issue of welfare reform. In 1996, overcoming vehement 
opposition and tremendous obstacles, the Republican majority passed 
groundbreaking welfare reform that cut caseloads in half.
  This year, as Congress is scheduled to reauthorize welfare reform, I 
would like to share the four principles being promoted by welfare 
proponents, proponents of welfare reform.
  Promoting work: Our plan strengthens the path toward independence. We 
will continue to support strong work requirements as a centerpiece of 
our plan for reauthorizing welfare reform.
  Improving child well-being: Our plan aims to lift millions more out 
of poverty. We are developing new initiatives to reduce child poverty 
and enhance opportunities for a brighter future.
  Promoting healthy marriages and strengthening families: We will 
continue to promote policies that reduce illegitimacy and divorce, 
while encouraging healthy marriages.
  Fostering hope and opportunity: Boosting personal incomes and 
improving quality of life, we will build on these successes by 
developing additional plans to place recipients on long-term career 
paths, promoting self-esteem, and improved quality of life.
  These are our guiding principles. They are worth fighting for. Strong 
families are worth fighting for. I urge my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to join in this noble cause.

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