Disapproving Rule Relating to Waiver and Expenditure Authority with Respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we're here today to head off at the pass President Obama's and the administration's attempt to gut the welfare reform work requirements. Americans don't want something for nothing. Americans want to work. Why? Because it's the American way.

But this issue is bigger than welfare. It's a skirmish in a war over America's future, the direction we're going in.

Now, under this President's watch just here in the last, what, 3 1/2 years, the number of able-bodied adults receiving food stamps has doubled. The Federal debt is up by $5 trillion, spending on welfare up 41 percent. More debt and greater dependency. It's the wrong vision for America.

Now, what's happened here in the last several years--I guess the last 3 years--is opportunity has diminished.

There's a clear choice right now, Mr. Speaker. It's a choice between two futures. We can continue down this path of debt and dependency, or we can choose a different path, and that's one of opportunity and prosperity. So I thank the gentleman for bringing this bill forward because the choice before America is very clear, and we choose opportunity and prosperity for every American.

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