Political Quotes

“I want to thank the chairman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that our colleagues across the aisle are attempting to paint Republicans as inconsistent on welfare work requirements to distract from their position in favor of undermining successful welfare reforms. They suggest that the Workforce Investment Improvement Act, WIIA, that I offered with my colleagues, Representatives Buck McKeon and Joe Heck, would gut the 1996 TANF work requirements. That is so far from the truth. WIIA would neither contradict nor supplant the 1996 work requirements. The WIIA legislation allows Governors to reduce the number of redundant taxpayer subsidized employment and job training programs and offer real assistance to the millions of Americans who are unemployed and suffering because of the policies of this administration. WIIA would reduce inefficiencies and have States administer these programs, not undermine welfare reform. Republicans have a clear record of strengthening the work requirements at the heart of the 1996 welfare reform bill, and we have a record of working with a Democrat President to accomplish that reform. I urge my colleagues to stand with us and with the 83 percent of Americans who want to see welfare's work requirements upheld by voting in favor of this resolution.”