    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [May 8, 1995]
    [Pages 657-658]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Welfare Reform Initiatives in Delaware
    May 8, 1995

        Today my administration has approved a bold plan for welfare reform
    in Delaware that promotes work, requires parental responsibility, and
    protects children. Delaware is the 28th State welfare reform experiment
    to be freed from Federal rules and regulations under this
    administration. Under Governor Tom Carper's leadership, Delaware will
    impose a time limit on benefits, provide job training opportunities,
    increase child support enforcement, and require teenage mothers to live
    at home and stay in school.
        In particular, I am pleased that Delaware joins 14 other States in
    requiring welfare recipients to sign personal responsibility agreements,
    which is a contract for work, in order to receive assistance. These
    contracts were an important part of the welfare reform legislation I
    sent Congress last year and are essential to real reform that moves
    people from welfare to work. Per-

    [[Page 658]]

    sonal responsibility is at the heart of welfare reform, and personal
    responsibility contracts must be part of any national welfare reform
    plan.
        I will continue to work with Congress to enact welfare reform
    legislation that includes real work requirements and the incentives and
    resources for States to move people from welfare to work. Welfare reform
    must be tough on work and on parents who walk away from their
    responsibilities, not tough on children.