Chuck Grassley: “This legislation that we will pass in the next 2 hours is truly historic. It recognizes, literally for the first time in…”

“This legislation that we will pass in the next 2 hours is truly historic. It recognizes, literally for the first time in 60 years, that when it comes to lifting people out of poverty, Washington does not have all the answers. In fact, I think most of us know Washington has really few answers in this area, because the true innovation, the true changes that we have seen in the last decade in regard to welfare reform has come from the States. That is what this bill will foster. That is what this bill will allow. Mr. President, there has been a great deal of controversy about many parts of this bill, but I believe what unites just about everyone in this debate is a realization that the current system simply is not working, that the status quo is unacceptable. We disagree about what should replace that system. That is why one chief merit of this bill is that it gives the States the flexibility to reinvent welfare, to find out what works, what does not work, and once we find out what works, to build on that.”