Lynn C. Woolsey: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Well, I've walked in the shoes of those who are needy. I know what it's like to go…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Well, I've walked in the shoes of those who are needy. I know what it's like to go without. I know what it's like to struggle. Forty years ago I found myself--no fault of my own--a single mother with three young children all under the age of 5 and barely a dime to my name. I was one of the lucky ones; I had a good education. And so I was able to get a job, and I didn't need unemployment benefits. But my job wasn't enough to feed those three little kids. I needed AFDC just to make ends meet. Nobody asked me to take a drug test, nobody asked if I had a GED. I was in trouble, and a generous, compassionate government helped me get back on my feet. That was over 40 years ago, my friends. And I can assure you that my children and I have more than paid back for that generous help that we received. The Republican bill is not consistent with American values as I've lived them and understood them during my 74 years on this Earth. We're all in this together, I believe. There but for the grace of God go I. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.”