Jodey Arrington: “I appreciate the gentleman, my colleague, Democratic colleague, for his comments and his personal testimony, and I…”

“I appreciate the gentleman, my colleague, Democratic colleague, for his comments and his personal testimony, and I respect his dad and the heritage of work that he left for his son. I am on the Agriculture Committee, and I have got to say I am confused, I am perplexed, and, quite frankly, I am outraged in many ways with some of my colleagues' comments about work and the work requirements that we are putting in the Food Stamp program. This doesn't have anything to do about children, about disabled people, about the elderly. This is about requiring people who are able-bodied to work who aren't working. We are long overdue for reforms in this country. We are long overdue to have policies in place that encourage work. We want people to have the blessing and dignity of work. We want people to fulfill their God- given potential. We want them to contribute to society. We have 6 million jobs, surplus jobs. We want folks to make the best out of the life that God has given them for their communities, for their families, for themselves. This is unbelievable in the United States of America. We are asking that, if you receive assistance from hardworking, taxpaying Americans, you would just work 20 hours a week or volunteer or be trained to work. That is all we are asking. I see hardworking people throughout the gallery, and I bet you they feel the same way. I have seen the polls.…”