Opening Statement of the Hon. Wally Herger, a Representative in Congress from the State of California

Testimony Before the House Committee on Ways and Means

Hearing on the President's Plan to Build on the Success of Welfare Reform

March 12, 2002

We welcome Secretary Thompson, a long-time expert on welfare reform dating to his many years as Governor of Wisconsin. 

Then-Governor Thompson acted based on what he knew – what we always knew -- about welfare.  That dependence on benefits, on receiving a check without working for it, was a destructive path. 

We knew this because we were warned.  President Franklin Roosevelt, the author of the former welfare program, told us:

“The lessons of history…show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit...It is in violation of the traditions of America."[1]

Yet by the early 1990s that is what welfare had become – a destroyer of the human spirit.  So Wisconsin first and then other states set about making common-sense changes that benefited those once trapped on welfare by showing them the path off welfare – the path of work.  This became the standard for the nation’s welfare reform program in 1996.

By any measure, that program has been a tremendous success. 

As Chairman Thomas mentioned, the number of children in poverty is down by nearly 3 million, and the poverty rate is at record lows for families most likely to fall into long-term dependence. 

The reason is clear.  Work replaced welfare, as the 1996 law intended.  Work by mothers most likely to go on welfare has risen by 40 percent.  And caseloads plummeted by 60 percent.  These are unprecedented changes we all can be proud of. 

But we should be even prouder of the millions of low-income parents – mostly single mothers – whose hard work made a better life for their families. 

Some said it couldn’t be done.  One group called the bill  "reckless and wrong" and predicted it "will create a social catastrophe by cutting off critically needed assistance to millions of our poorest children." [2] The New York Times said "the effect on some cities will be devastating" and charged it was "simply wrong" that the bill would replace welfare checks with paychecks.[3]  One Member of this House said "The real world will teach everyone in this Congress that you are hurting children." [4] 

Fortunately, they were wrong.  But this story is still far from over, and we can’t stop here.

Today we welcome Secretary Thompson to present the President’s proposals to strengthen welfare reform in the future. 

We learned last week in a Human Resources Subcommittee hearing that 58 percent of current welfare recipients are not working or even participating in training.  That’s not acceptable.   

The President’s plan expects more recipients to work and move up the economic ladder, not two years after going on welfare but right away.  He provides funding to make that work.  And he expands state flexibility to provide drug abuse and mental health services as well as education and training to help parents get better jobs.     

His legislation also includes more funds for additional services to strengthen families and promote healthy marriage, which we know is the best way to raise children.

This is a strong foundation for us to build on as we renew welfare reform.  We welcome Secretary Thompson, and look forward to working with him to get this critical job done.

[1] Annual message to Congress, January 4, 1935.

[2] Catholic Charities USA, press release, August 1, 1996.

[3] NYT Editorial August 1, 1996.

[4] Carrie Meek, floor of US House, July 31, 1996.