Nancy Kassebaum: “later this year, the Senate will take up the issue of welfare reform. I know this is a high priority to the chairman of…”

“later this year, the Senate will take up the issue of welfare reform. I know this is a high priority to the chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator Moynihan, who has long been a leader on the question of welfare and delivering support system to those in need. It is also something that is of great concern to Members on both sides of the aisle. Senator Coats was talking about the health care. I believe that welfare reform really is very much a part and just as important as health care reform. I think they go hand in hand in many ways, and I believe the need to act on this issue is at least as important and as urgent as health care reform in and of itself. Today, I am introducing legislation along with Senators Bennett, Brown, Craig, and Danforth to help address this concern. Without question, the current welfare system has helped feed, clothe, house, and educate millions of children through the AFDC program, and our children's nutritional program. it also is without question that we have done so at an enormous price, not only in terms of money, but in terms of creating a dependency that has led us in the wrong direction.”