    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [August 17, 1995]
    [Page 1259]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Welfare Reform
    August 17, 1995

        In the past 2\1/2\ years, as part of my continuing effort to make
    Government better reflect the values of the American people, my
    administration has granted more State welfare reform experiments than in
    the past 12 years combined. Today, 33 States are experimenting in
    requiring welfare recipients to work for their benefits, requiring teen
    moms to live at home and stay in school, requiring delinquent parents to
    pay child support, and requiring recipients to be held to a time limit.
        I am offering States a new, simpler way to achieve welfare reform.
    My fast-track demonstration initiative will let States build on
    strategies we already know are moving people from welfare to work. We
    must replace our broken welfare system with one that reflects the
    fundamental American values of work, responsibility, and family. When
    Congress returns, they should immediately put welfare reform at the top
    of their agenda and send me a tough, bipartisan bill that builds upon
    our progress. In the meantime, I will continue to do everything in my
    power to move welfare reform forward in the States and in Washington.