Bill Barrett: “Madam Chairman, despite having invested more than $1 trillion, the Federal Government's 30-year war on poverty has…”

“Madam Chairman, despite having invested more than $1 trillion, the Federal Government's 30-year war on poverty has instead created a war of poverty. Along with giving States and communities more flexibility in designing welfare programs, H.R. 3734 will provide welfare recipients with a better coordinated system of child care. The bill will provide $4.5 billion more for child care than is currently available and it will consolidate 7 separate programs that have often left child care providers, and families, confused and without assistance. The bill is tough on getting welfare recipients back to work but without these improvements in child care assistance, welfare families may not be able to afford work and pay for child care at the same time. Madam Chairman, while the bill provides more funds for child care, it will make other needed reforms that should save $53 billion by 2002. I would encourage the House to support the bill and help end a way of poverty that has permeated our Nation's welfare system for more than 30 years.”