On the recordSeptember 10, 1996
That's a wonderful story. Let me just say again--I mean, I know I'm beating this to death, but it's a point I want to make to the American people. The act I signed is the beginning of welfare reform. What it does is it creates very strong incentives for every State to, in effect, empower communities to develop community-based systems like this. There is no way even a State, much less the National Government, can know how much money any community needs for transportation--that depends on what the facts of the community--much less whether there should be a program for helping people with their dental or clothing needs or anything like that. This has got to be pushed down to the grassroots level, where community people who care about their community and care about the people that they come in contact with as individuals, can fashion solutions that will work. And I think now you've got the tools to do it, and we've just got to make sure we do it right. But I just wish everybody in America were as far along as you all are. I want to say a special world of thanks to Tom and Bruce, too, for participating, and all of the other employers that you represent here today. I have two feelings about this that a lot of the skeptics who were worried about me signing this bill didn't. I believe the business community's response will be overwhelming, because I think most people in business would like to end the way the welfare system has worked and would be willing to do their part in doing it. That's what I believe. I think most business people will stretch a little, especially if we're at least sharing the cost of early training and development of work habits. And I have hardly ever met anybody on welfare who did not want to get off once they believed that they could, you know. So you all have strengthened my faith and optimism. [Various participants expressed their appreciation for the President's support.]
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