John Joseph Moakley: “Today 9 million children depend upon Aid to Families With Dependent Children for their survival. When we are talking…”

“Today 9 million children depend upon Aid to Families With Dependent Children for their survival. When we are talking about reforming welfare, we are talking about these 9 million American children, and we need to be very, very careful on what changes we make. Mr. Speaker, this is not to say that I am opposed to welfare reform. In fact, I am very much in favor of welfare reform. I have seen too many children growing up surrounded by violence. I have seen too many fathers completely abandon their responsibilities. And I have seen too many single mothers too dejected and overwhelmed to look for jobs. These days being poor is not what it used to be. It used to be that families stuck together. It used to be if you worked hard enough you could support your family. But, Mr. Speaker, unfortunately times have changed. I agree with the editorial in the August 12 issue of the New Republic which says that, although our current welfare system may not have created the current underclass, it certainly sustains it. I agree that welfare reform is one of the most important issues that we can take up in this Congress. Today's Boston Globe says that under this bill, poverty will grow with welfare done on the cheap. We need to be very careful, Mr. Speaker, how we change AFDC and not do it on the cheap. This bill, Mr. Speaker, is not the way to do it.”