Lynn C. Woolsey: “the budget resolution makes a good start at educating more Americans, and that is very good. But at the same time we…”

“the budget resolution makes a good start at educating more Americans, and that is very good. But at the same time we must take this opportunity to help another very important group of Americans become educated. I am talking about women who are on welfare, women who want to complete their education so they can get off welfare and into jobs that pay a livable wage. The welfare bill as passed tells these women education is not important. It is important for others, but not for them, because education is not counted as work in the new welfare law. I have introduced a bill, Mr. Speaker, to change that. My bill says to women on welfare, ``If you study for your high school degree or your college degree or train for a career, we will count that as work.'' Education must be a top priority for all Americans, particularly for single moms who are on welfare. We must count education for welfare mothers as work so that they can get their lives together and they can earn a livable wage.”