WALLY HERGER: “over the last three decades the American taxpayer has spent $5 trillion on our welfare system. Working Americans may be…”

“over the last three decades the American taxpayer has spent $5 trillion on our welfare system. Working Americans may be asking themselves, what have we gained from all that spending? Do we have less poverty in the United States? No; are welfare recipients spending less time on welfare? No; after spending $5 trillion on welfare, have we solved the problems of poverty and dependency on Federal dollars? Is it extreme to think that maybe there is a better way of running our welfare system? Madam Chairwoman, the Republican welfare reform proposal will allow welfare to work better for all Americans. Our welfare reform makes welfare a way out--not a way of life. It promotes work over a continual cycle of welfare. It returns power and money to the States and encourages personal responsibility. Madam, Chairwoman, this reform proposal also denies welfare for noncitizens and includes a provision I developed with a sheriff in my district to deny imprisoned criminals welfare and create an incentive for local law enforcement officials to help stop this abuse. Currently, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of inmates in local and State jails are illegally receiving welfare checks. Without this welfare reform, the American taxpayer will allegedly give prisoners $270 million over the next 7 years in welfare payments. Madam Chairwoman, our current welfare system is inefficient, unfair, and damaging to those it is supposed to help.”