Charles W. Stenholm: “I rise in support of motion to instruct the conferees in exactly the same spirit the gentleman from Florida has just…”

“I rise in support of motion to instruct the conferees in exactly the same spirit the gentleman from Florida has just spoken with. I believe when we carefully analyze this amendment, in the spirit in which was indicated support for, we will find that this motion ensures that welfare reform will not shift costs to State and local governments, which I know the gentleman from Florida agrees to. The National Governors Association, the National Council of State Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities all have said the bill passed by the House places unfunded mandates on State and local governments and restricts the flexibility to administer welfare programs in their communities. I am submitting for the Record a letter from each of the latter three organizations. Members will find that the Senate has made marginal improvements. The conferees can, if allowed to do our work, make it much better in the spirit of this motion to instruct. I was particularly concerned to learn that the bills passed by the House and Senate would conflict with the reform initiatives being implemented by Texas, my State, and others States across the country.”