Wayne Gilchrest: “Mr. Chairman, I think everybody in the Chamber this afternoon wants to resolve a problem that has persisted in this…”

“Mr. Chairman, I think everybody in the Chamber this afternoon wants to resolve a problem that has persisted in this Nation for decades, and that is the problem of poverty, particularly the problem of poverty in public housing. Someone mentioned that we are about to change the ground rules. I think it is about time to change the ground rules. We are attempting to change the ground rules so that we can cut the cycle of the paralysis of poverty that has existed in public housing for far too long. We are talking about women who have children should not be a part of this particular program of voluntarism. Well, No. 1, if someone living in public housing with children has a part-time job, it is my understanding that they are exempt from this voluntarism program. However, let us take a look at the women who are not exempted, let us take a look at the women who are not working and who have children. It seems to me that, if we create a structure where these women will have an opportunity to have an exchange, a simple, human exchange with other people for a couple of hours a week, that is a positive thing. If we are to break the cycle of poverty, we need people to have an exchange of information, an honest exchange of information with other people within the community. Women with children should be offered an opportunity to improve the quality of their life.”