Political Quotes

“I stand before you today to show the American people what the Republicans in Congress really stand for. This welfare reform bill perpetuates the misconception of the stereotypical welfare recipient and does little to actually help those on the welfare rolls gain economic independence. H.R. 4 does nothing to help people move into real jobs providing livable wages. One of the key factors in moving recipients from welfare to work is the ability to obtain education and job training. This legislation ignores the reality of the situation: education is imperative to propel those on the welfare rolls into higher paying jobs that are the real road to self-sufficiency. In the current state of our economy, now more than ever, we need to provide job skills and training to the poorest families. Even skilled workers are having a difficult time finding employment, and it would be ruthless for us to turn our backs on those with less skills in their time of need. Mr. Chairman, this Republican bill's extended work provisions are extremely troubling. Mandating a 40-hour work week for single parents on welfare without providing the needed monies for child care is reprehensible. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that $11 billion will be needed to fund for child care in order to make this extended-work mandate feasible. H.R. 4 allows only $1 billion for this care, thus leaving our already financially-strapped states in a serious predicament.”