Political Quotes

“This amendment, submitted on behalf of myself and colleagues, Senators Abraham, Santorum, Hutchison and Thompson, asks for a sense of the Congress that President Clinton should ensure approval of a waiver request for Tennessee's Family First program, as well as welfare programs in 12 other States. Across this country this very minute, States are desperately awaiting the Clinton administration's approval for local welfare state initiatives. The State of Tennessee, like 12 other States, has submitted a waiver request to Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to gain Federal approval for portions of a State-based welfare plan. Tennessee submitted its waiver request on April 30, 1996--78 days ago. This is not uncommon. Across this country, there are 15 other States with 22 waiver requests currently pending. Some of these States include Georgia, the Jobs First program; also in Georgia, the Fraud Detection Project; in Kansas, Actively Creating Tomorrow for Families Demonstration; in Minnesota, the Work First program and the AFDC Barrier Removal Project; in Oklahoma, the Welfare Self-Sufficiency Initiative. Those are a few samples. Mr. President, on July 31, 1995, the President promised the Governors that the Secretary of Health and Human Services would approve their requests 'within 30 days.' That is what he said--30 days. It has been 78 days since Tennessee's request was placed.”