WALLY HERGER: “if it were not for this continuing resolution, the greatly successful 1996 welfare reforms would expire just 4 days from…”

“if it were not for this continuing resolution, the greatly successful 1996 welfare reforms would expire just 4 days from now. What makes this prolonged lack of action so frustrating is that welfare reform has helped literally millions of families achieve remarkable progress in the last 6 years. The 1996 welfare reforms were the greatest social policy change success story in history. The success is indisputable. Nearly 3 million children have left poverty. Employment by mothers most likely to go on welfare rose by 40 percent. Welfare caseloads fell by 9 million. The continuing resolution before us extends for 3 months the important welfare programs depended upon by millions of low-income families. We should not have to be here today extending welfare programs, but the other body has failed to act; so we have no other choice. I encourage my colleagues to support this continuing resolution so millions of low-income families can continue to be supported in their efforts to work and support their families.”