Let s give the American people the best possible welfare reform bill, and let s do it before the August congressional recess. If Congress doesn t act, we still have to continue to act to make responsibility a way of life and not an option. Today I am taking the steps that I can take as President to advance the central premise of welfare reform, one that is invited in all the proposed welfare bills, that anyone who can go to work must do so. We ll say to welfare recipients within two years you ll be expected to go to work and earn a paycheck, not draw a welfare check. Here s how we ll do that.
States can then take away the benefits if they fail to live up to that commitment.