Andrea Seastrand: “in trying to help the least advantaged among us, our Federal Government has instead created a culture of poverty that is…”

“in trying to help the least advantaged among us, our Federal Government has instead created a culture of poverty that is destroying the next generation. It created a safety net that works as a hammock instead of a trampoline. It created reliance when we wanted self-help. And it started a cycle of dependency when we wanted charity. The clients of the welfare system have instead become its victims. Now Congress has the opportunity to change the system. We have the obligation to reform the system. And we have the moral imperative to transform this system of dependency. While others have come to defend the welfare state, they have instead declared war on our children of the next generation because they don't recognize this era has raised the white flag over the current culture of poverty. Mr. Speaker our welfare system is normally bankrupt and only through a mixture of compassion and tough love will we be able to keep our country from declaring moral chapter 11 and defaulting on the next generation--our children.”