Remarks at a White House
Meeting With the House of Representatives Republican Task Force on Welfare
Reform
Well,
we better get down to business here. I'd like to thank all of you, first of
all, for coming down on what turned out to be very short notice. But there's a
lot of pressing business before we all leave Washington, and one of the major
issues is certainly welfare reform.
As
I said last year in the State of the Union Address, the principal issue in any
welfare reform proposal is whether or not it'll help people become
self-sufficient and lead a full life or keep them in a state of dependency. I
feel strongly that we're on the right track in proposing the Low-Income
Opportunity Act, which would allow States to test new ideas for reducing
dependency. We also believe in the need to reform work requirements and to
provide training and education, a greater opportunity through work. The GROW
program would allow us to do that.
I
know that all of you've been under some pressure to sign on the so-called
welfare reform bills that would increase benefits and make welfare more
attractive. And I commend you for your willingness to follow a responsible path
to prevent increased dependency. And, Bob, I understand that your task force
has worked diligently with members of the administration to come up with a
proposal that we can all work together on. And, Hank, I'm most appreciative of
what you offered as an alternative.
Note: The President
spoke at