Patsy T. Mink: “So I have full confidence in my State and local elected officials to know what is appropriate for our community. But I…”

“So I have full confidence in my State and local elected officials to know what is appropriate for our community. But I also believe that the Congress of the United States has an important responsibility in establishing the priorities, understanding what the needs are of Americans all across the country, and coming up with programs that match surplus commodities and requirements of our farming communities. That is how the Food Stamp Program got started. I was here when it happened. Congresswoman Lenore Sullivan was the one who put it all together, from the great State of Missouri, and it has worked, and it has been a boon to the farmers of this country, and it has met a tremendous need in all of our poorer communities. So it is tragic that in formulating this concept of welfare reform that they have sought to pool this money and disregard the initial intent of Congress in formulating these targeted special programs. Our concerns are concerns, I am sure, that are shared by most of the Members on the minority side, and I hope that when this debate reaches the floor, we will have opportunities to debate this issue fully, to offer amendments to correct this major oversight.”