From the office of Rep. Peter Roskam (R, Illinois 6th District)…
Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) went to the House floor in support of preserving the Welfare to Work requirement that the Obama Administration recently moved to undermine. According to the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, the Obama Administration failed to follow the law by unilaterally announcing the new policy that essentially guts the work requirement that was the cornerstone of welfare reform.
Excerpts
“This is not some abstract thing, Mr. Speaker. There are very serious voices that have come out and they’ve made this argument that the following things are work and should be included, Mr. Speaker, under the work definitions for welfare.
“Things like: bed rest, personal care activities, massage, exercise, journaling, motivational reading, smoking cessation, weight loss promotion, participation in parent meetings and helping a friend or relative with household tasks or errands.
“So there are some folks that are making the argument if you go help your neighbor rake a lawn then somehow that’s work under the welfare to work requirement?
“This is not some abstract thing. This is not something the GOP is looking for. This is a sense of clarity.
“This is an area where everybody should come together. This should pass with a voice vote. This is an admonition to the White House to say don’t do this. Do not weaken these work requirements.
“Instead make sure that they are fast and solid and that they move people to work. But don’t subsidize massage therapy and pump a lot of sunshine and tell hardworking Americans that that’s work, because it’s not.”
