We certainly believe that the majority of individuals will be able to move off welfare in the near future. One of the things that I think Republicans rely on very clearly is the good faith of the American people that given an opportunity…

Do you agree that we should establish paternity before we provide benefits? Mr. McCURDY. I do. My State, Oklahoma, has a requirement of such. When President Clinton was Governor of Arkansas, he recommended, and they established, such a…

So you do believe we should have a standard for citizenship. You do believe we should establish and insist on paternity. You do believe we should establish time limits. Mr. McCurdy, on the basis of what we have heard tonight, you appear to…

But I think there is a real problem here. And that is since you come from a State with a large immigrant population as well, that you have to avoid cost shifting. We talk about unfunded mandates. We don't want to just cost-shift a huge…

There is also another question about how disingenuous the Clinton plan is, because it does, in fact, exempt over 75 percent of the participants in the program today. And it does cost $58 billion. How, in fact, does President Clinton plan…

The probability of a child growing up to be dependent on welfare is four time greater if that child comes from a welfare-dependent family. Welfare is not working. While one-half of mothers on welfare are off in 1 year, 75 percent will end…

You said you require more flexibility than the 2 years and you are off. Would you agree with a 3-year, or does flexibility go up to 10 years? At what point do we in society say: Flexibility, time is up, it is now up to society to expect…

Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Mr. McCurdy, do you believe in establishing time limits for individuals to get off welfare? Mr. McCURDY. I do. I support the President's proposal. There ought to be a 2-year time limit.

I come to the floor to express my support as well as my disappointment for the bill before us today. Much to my disappointment, provisions still exist in the bill which may make it impossible for me to fully support it. However, I continue…