Kent Conrad: “Mr. President, everybody here agrees that work is important and that food stamp benefits should be temporary. But the…”

“Mr. President, everybody here agrees that work is important and that food stamp benefits should be temporary. But the work requirement provision in the pending welfare bill would have the unintended effect of preventing people who want to find work from securing a job. How can my colleagues seriously argue that people can be expected to find a job, to sit through an interview when they have not eaten? It does not work. I understand and support the work ethic in America, but I also believe our society has achieved a level of decency where we will not deny food assistance to people who have been unable to find a job in just 4 months. The reason I felt it was important to offer this amendment is I have dealt with people who are in this exact circumstance.”