February 13, 2003

United States Congress 

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to approve a welfare reform plan that empowers families and promotes independence through work. 

"We believe that for people in need, it's the job of the federal government to empower people mired in dependency to determine their own destiny," DeLay said.  "We understand that people who need a hand-up still aspire to pursue their American dream." 

Delay said critics of the plan don't trust people to make the "vital transition to independence" themselves.  

"They just don't get the downside to dependency," Delay said.

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