George Holding: “I would like to say a few words this morning about the work that we have been doing here in the House to add workfare…”

“I would like to say a few words this morning about the work that we have been doing here in the House to add workfare requirements to the food stamp program. President Ronald Reagan once stated: ``The Federal Government declared war on poverty, and poverty won.'' That is as true today as it was when President Reagan said it. Over the last five decades, Congress has spent more than $22 trillion of taxpayers' money on government welfare programs. The result: 50 years later, the poverty rate stands unchanged. If anyone ever needed more proof that more government isn't the solution to every problem, here is the proof. If you were to measure success solely on how much taxpayer money the government spends to solve a problem, then the government's war on poverty has been wildly successful. After all, we now have 13 Federal agencies running more than 80 government welfare programs. But if we judge success based on how many people have been able to rise out of poverty to take care of themselves and their families, these government programs have failed. So what have we learned after spending $22 trillion? It is simple: Workfare helps people stand on their own two feet. It helps people get off the welfare treadmill. For example, before Congress reformed Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as TANF, to incorporate a strict work requirement, there were 4.9 million families on the welfare rolls.…”