Sen. Paul Simon

Senator Metzenbaum and I both agree that the committee report language was in error and that the final conference version of the bill should properly reflect the intention of the committee.

This is a practical compromise that we have worked out. The bill calls for mandated paid work. Both the business community and the labor community have indicated they believe paid work in this kind of situation is helpful. There are those…

I simply want to commend my colleague from Pennsylvania who has provided real leadership in this area. He understands it. He knows this is really the key to our Nation moving ahead as we should, and I am very grateful to him.

I am pleased to support the amendment offered by my colleague from South Dakota. I come from rural, sparsely settled southern Illinois. So I have sympathy for what he is trying to do. I point out that it contains permissive language. It…

My colleague cited the 1983 report and that strong language. I assume that must have come in some radical liberal Democratic administration. Am I correct in that assumption? Or what administration made this report on this 1983 language.