[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[July 21, 1992]
[Page 1153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on New Jersey Welfare Reform

July 21, 1992
    In my State of the Union Address, I pledged to help any State to 
reform its welfare system by making it easier to obtain waivers of 
Federal law and regulation. I am pleased that we have approved Federal 
waivers that will allow New Jersey to implement its welfare reforms. 
These waivers will allow New Jersey to try a new approach to helping 
welfare dependent families become independent.
    New Jersey's approach, called the Family Development Program, will 
encourage responsible behavior by parents receiving welfare. It will 
also offer incentives for such parents to work.
    New ideas for reforming welfare abound in the States. I am pleased 
New Jersey will be one of the ``laboratories of democracy'' for welfare 
reform. Careful efforts to try new ideas and evaluate how well they work 
can help us create a better welfare system. New Jersey's efforts today 
will make for smarter policy tomorrow.