[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CONTINUING WELFARE REFORM SUCCESSES

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Welfare 
Reform Action Team, I am here today to reopen the discussion on welfare 
reform. In 1996, after a contentious debate that will not soon be 
forgotten, Republicans rallied to pass welfare reform.
  Another thing that will not be soon forgotten is welfare reform's 
historic results. Republican-led welfare reform has proven successful 
in replacing welfare checks with paychecks, fostering independence, 
boosting personal incomes and improving the well-being of children.
  In 1996, Congress fixed a welfare system that was completely broken. 
The proof is in the numbers. Since 1994, welfare caseloads have been 
reduced by 9 million. The number of individuals receiving cash 
assistance has dropped by 56 percent. Nearly 3 million children have 
been lifted from poverty, and the child poverty rate is at its lowest 
level since 1978. That is real progress.
  Now that the success stories are from many and the naysayers are few, 
it is my sincere hope that this House will support the President in 
reauthorizing welfare reform in a strong bipartisan fashion. There is 
still more work to be done. We must continue to strengthen the path 
toward independence.

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