Date: 1995-03-21
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I thank the gentleman. the ranking member of the committee. for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman. we are considering the Personal Responsibility Act and it is an easy bumper sticker name and people will hear for the next few days some of the easy names. that this bill was going to solve outofmarriage births. I would hope that we have some reality checks on the other side of the aisle. also. because what this bill does. it is a transfer of Power to the Governors of the country. This bill allows Governors to deny legal immigrants Statefunded assistance. The bill allows governors to remove 20 percent in the 3 block grants for child care. family. and school nutrition. That is where we would see the cuts on the State level. The Governors could do that. Congress should provide a great deal of latitude for State governments. but we also need to make sure that the food actually gets to those children instead of saying. well. were guaranteeing it to a Governor but were not guaranteeing it to that child. I wish to make it clear that that is what we are doing. We are guaranteeing funding to that Governor but not to that child. Welfare reform is requiring for work. requiring transitional assistance. requiring going to job training. We can reform food stamps. Those are all goals that we should have and I think we should have on this side of the aisle but I am on the committee that this bill was considered and we did not have a bipartisan bill. This was laid out and literally rolled over in two days time. That is why a lot of us are opposing it. because it will cut childrens nutrition. because the only guarantee it is to the Governors of the States and not to the children of our country. The House of Representatives is debating the Personal Responsibility Act. " A bumper sticker name for a bill which will place sweeping powers in the hands of Governors to reform welfare. What are some of powers that Governors will be given? The bill before us will allow Governors to deny legal immigrants and State funded assistance based on e9onomic needs. .The bill also allows Governors to move 20 percent of funds from the three block grants for child care. family and school nutrition programs. Congress should provide a great deal of latitude to State governments to be innovative and imaginative. but Congress must also.ensure Federal assistance is used by the people who most need that help. This bill provides a guarantee to Governors for the funds included in the block grants. I wish to be very clear on this point: A Governor is guaranteed funding but not a child. Welfare reform is called for. requiring work requiring transitional assistance. reforming food stamps are all goals which must be obtained but not at the cost of school children. and nutrition. The fatal flaw in the school breakfast and lunch block grant is it does not guarantee a child a meal but just as important it does not take into affect that foods costs increase along with school population. Without increasing the funds as a result of food cost inflation and increased population. a local school district will be forced to increase local tax rates to make up the shortfall. We will hear on one side that funding is increased and on the other side there are cuts. The simple fact is we are all guessing because this bill has been rushed through the Congress like a runaway train. Mistakes have been made. At one point 57.000 military children were left out. We must be diligent in reforming welfare but when we are forced to take up legislation which has been run through with little discussion. mistakes are made. Earlier. A fellow Texas colleague statesthat we should not take away someones dream. and I agree but we should also not take away a helping hand. Reform is needed. but informed reform is real reform.