Lynn C. Woolsey: “Over 30 years ago, Mr. Speaker, I was a single mom with three small children, and even though I was working, I needed…”

“Over 30 years ago, Mr. Speaker, I was a single mom with three small children, and even though I was working, I needed AFDC, welfare, to add to my income for health care, child care and food stamps. When Congress passed welfare reform in 1996, I warned that getting women off the welfare rolls and into dead-end jobs would not be enough, especially if we had a downturn in the economy. The goal of welfare must be to break the cycle of poverty, not just get women jobs that pay slightly above minimum wage. Under the welfare reauthorization that is before us this year, education must count as work so we can help recipients gain access to training and education so that they can improve their economic future and the future for their children. But without skills, the skills needed for a job, a job that pays a livable wage, and the knowledge that their children are getting good child care while they are away at work, moms will have a hard time succeeding.”