Nancy L. Johnson: “I urge my colleagues to vote down this motion to recommit and pass the bill. We are adding $2 billion in money for child…”

“I urge my colleagues to vote down this motion to recommit and pass the bill. We are adding $2 billion in money for child care for the States. But beyond that, remember that we are giving the States exactly the amount of money we gave them 5 years ago, but the welfare rolls are half that amount. So the States have all that additional money that they can devote to child care or meeting the other needs of people working to get off welfare and into the job market. Furthermore, we have added $2 billion in the child care block grant. We have made sure it has grown every year. There is $170 billion available over the next 5 years from the State and Federal governments for TANF. We have a balanced, sound, strong bill that will support women and their families as they make the transition from welfare to work, and I urge rejection of the motion to recommit and passage of this landmark legislation.”