S7128 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 22, 1995

the flexibility to design work programs

that do one thing—move parents into

the work force. But the WAGE Act

does not just let States take the money

and run.

It is based on the principle that those

who raise the money should have some

say in how it is spent. But it discards

the micromanagement of the past.

The WAGE Act has four themes:

First, work. From the day that a parent sets foot in a welfare office, we will

expect that person to work or to demonstrate progress toward self-sufficiency.

Second, State flexibility. States will

have a wide latitude to design effective

work programs under a new work and

gainful employment block grant. The

WAGE block grant will also provide incentives for moving parents into the

work force.

Third, profamily. Families that stay

together and play by the rules will be

supported in their efforts to be self-sufficient. For children in divorced and

never-married families, both parents

will be expected to provide financial

support through extensive and tough

new child support enforcement measures.

Fourth, protects children. A transitional aid program will replace AFDC

and provide cash assistance to families

with children. States will have broad

flexibility to determine eligibility and

to set benefit levels and time limits.

Teen parents will be required to stay in

school and to live with their parents or

in adult-supervised living arrangements.

Under my proposal, the transitional

aid program will be a cooperative Federal-State effort, with the Federal Government providing matching funds to

States. However, unlike AFDC, it will

emphasize the need for participants to

work or prepare themselves for work.

The WAGE block grant will provide

States with the means to move welfare

recipients into work. The WAGE Act

will save money and reform the welfare

system without resorting to the freefor-all of AFDC block grants that does

little to hold States accountable and

that puts America’s children at great

risk.

While there are savings to be realized

in ending welfare inefficiencies, I hope

the Senate’s deliberations will emphasize first and foremost that welfare reform is not an experiment to be tested

on America’s poor children. The House

bill allows States to count people as

working who are kicked off the rolls.

Mr. President, what could be more absurd than to say that people are working who have just been eliminated from

the welfare rolls? You can be eliminated from the welfare rolls and not

working, and we should not count people as working who are not. Real welfare reform is about solving the problem of transitioning parents into the

work force, not the streets.

The person most affected by our deliberations are America’s children. I

hope that our efforts will focus on supporting and enabling their parents to

be self-sufficient. That is the only approach that will ensure that we are responsible to the next generation.

Mr. President, let me end as I began.

This new welfare reform proposal emphasizes four principles: work, State

flexibility, families, and protecting

children.

I think those ought to be the principles that underlie any reform of our

welfare system.

ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS

fS. 364

At the request of Mr. BROWN, the

name of the Senator from Colorado

[Mr. CAMPBELL] was added as a cosponsor of S. 364, a bill to authorize the

Secretary of the Interior to participate

in the operation of certain visitor facilities associated with, but outside the

boundaries of, Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado.

S. 412

At the request of Ms. SNOWE, the

name of the Senator from Connecticut

[Mr. LIEBERMAN] was added as a cosponsor of S. 412, a bill to amend the

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

to modify the bottled drinking water

standards provisions, and for other purposes.

S. 495

At the request of Mrs. KASSEBAUM,

the name of the Senator from Mississippi [Mr. LOTT] was added as a cosponsor of S. 495, a bill to amend the

Higher Education Act of 1965 to stabilize the student loan programs, improve congressional oversight, and for

other purposes.

S. 529

At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the

name of the Senator from Arizona [Mr.

MCCAIN] was added as a cosponsor of S.

529, a bill to provide, temporarily, tariff and quota treatment equivalent to

that accorded to members of the North

American Free Trade Agreement

(NAFTA) to Caribbean Basin beneficiary countries.

S. 729

At the request of Mr. BAUCUS, the

names of the Senator from Mississippi

[Mr. COCHRAN] and the Senator from

Oklahoma [Mr. INHOFE] were added as

cosponsors of S. 729, a bill to provide

off-budget treatment for the Highway

Trust Fund, the Airport and Airway

Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways

Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

S. 770

At the request of Mr. DOLE, the name

of the Senator from Minnesota [Mr.

GRAMS] was added as a cosponsor of S.

770, a bill to provide for the relocation

of the United States Embassy in Israel

to Jerusalem, and for other purposes.

S. 834

At the request of Mr. BROWN, his

name was withdrawn as a cosponsor of

S. 834, a bill to restore the American

family, reduce illegitimacy, and reduce

welfare dependence.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11

At the request of Ms. SNOWE, the

name of the Senator from New Jersey

[Mr. BRADLEY] was added as a cosponsor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 11,

a concurrent resolution supporting a

resolution to the long-standing dispute

regarding Cyprus.

AMENDMENT NO. 1112

At the request of Mr. BRADLEY his

name was added as a cosponsor of

Amendment No. 1112 proposed to S.

Con. Res. 13, an original concurrent

resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States

Government for the fiscal years 1996,

1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.

SENATE RESOLUTION 122—DESIGNATING JAMES R. KETCHUM

fAS CURATOR EMERITUS OF THE

U.S. SENATE

Mr. DOLE (for himself and Mr.

DASCHLE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and

agreed to:

S. RES. 122

Whereas James R. Ketchum will retire

from the United States Senate after 25 years

as Senator Curator, and 35 years of Government service;

Whereas he has dedicated his Senate service to preserving the works of art, history,

and traditions of the Senate;

Whereas he has contributed immeasurably

to the restoration of the Old Senate Chamber, the Old Supreme Court Chamber, the

President’s Room, and other historic rooms

in the Capitol;

Whereas he has developed exhibitions and

educational programs detailing the rich heritage of the Senate for all to enjoy;

Whereas he has upheld the high standards

and traditions of the Senate with abiding devotion; and

Whereas he has earned the respect, affection, and esteem of the United States Senate; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That, effective July 1, 1995, as a

token of the appreciation of the Senate for

his long and faithful service, James R.

Ketchum is hereby designated as Curator

Emeritus of the United States Senate.

SENATE RESOLUTION 123—RELATING TO THE RETIREMENT OF

fGERALD A. HACKETT

Mr. DOLE (for himself and Mr.

DASCHLE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and

agreed to:

S. RES. 123

Whereas Gerald A. Hackett will retire from

the United States Senate after 33 years of

service, the last 29 years as Executive Clerk;

Whereas his dedication to the United

States resulted in the computerization of the

nomination and treaty processes, and the online publishing of the Executive Journal;

Whereas he has performed the duties of his

office with remarkable diligence, perseverance, efficiency, and intelligence;

Whereas he has faithfully performed his

duties serving all Members of the Senate

with great professional integrity and dedication; and

Whereas Gerald A. Hackett has earned the

respect, admiration and esteem of the United

States Senate: Now, therefore, be it