Patsy T. Mink: “today I am introducing a bill which adds children to the category of persons eligible for supplemental security income…”

“today I am introducing a bill which adds children to the category of persons eligible for supplemental security income [SSI] benefits. Currently, the disabled, blind, and low-income elderly are eligible for SSI benefits. Last night President Clinton drew attention to the need for welfare reform and emphasized the job-oriented plan which his administration is urging. In order to get families off of welfare he fully understands that first, jobs must be available for which welfare recipients qualify; second, job training must be provided to help these people qualify for higher paying jobs because below poverty wages is not answer to welfare; and third, in order for welfare recipients to leave home there must be child care services available otherwise the children will be the innocent victims of this reform. Somehow when people target welfare as a way of life which must be changed by reform, they forget that these families are made up of young children.”