Byron Dorgan: “I am offering the second amendment on behalf of Senator Daschle, myself, Senator Domenici and Senator McCain. It is an…”

“I am offering the second amendment on behalf of Senator Daschle, myself, Senator Domenici and Senator McCain. It is an amendment that has been worked out by both sides to exempt certain individuals living in areas of low labor market participation from the 5-year limitation on assistance. If I might, in a capsule, point out that the welfare reform bill provides a 20-percent exemption that is available to the States. What we could have and likely would have are circumstances where there are areas in which virtually no jobs are available and you have very high unemployment. That situation would soak up the exemption almost immediately. This amendment addresses and corrects that and provides some more flexibility to the States.”