Lloyd Bentsen: “I rise in support of this welfare reform conference report. This bill is far from perfect, but it does move us down the…”

“I rise in support of this welfare reform conference report. This bill is far from perfect, but it does move us down the road toward reforming the welfare system to help families in need. I have long advocated and agree with provisions requiring work and encouraging self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. This legislation is an improvement over more extreme earlier bills. It includes necessary provisions which I and others fought for during the last 2 years because they are important to working families, children, and fast-growing states such as Texas. It provides some transitional health care benefits and child care assistance. It retains the Federal guarantee of health care and nutritional assistance for children. It eliminates the Republicans' proposal to raise taxes on working families by cutting the earned income tax credit. It provide a safety net, albeit minimal, for high growth states such as Texas, Florida, and California and for recessions. It lets States give noncash vouchers to families whose welfare eligibility has expired, so they can buy essentials for children. None of these provisions were contained in previous so-called welfare reform. While I am supporting this legislation, I am troubled by the elimination of benefits for legal immigrants who have participated in the workforce and paid taxes. Harris County, TX, which I represent, currently faces a measles epidemic.”