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Respectfully submitted,

Rep. GRADY A. BROWN

I am including this statement in the House Journal to indicate my reasons for not supporting H. 3613, otherwise known as the Welfare Reform Bill.

The bill as presently written includes the cap of twenty-four months on recipients of welfare, even though the bill, in other areas, has done what I think is a good job of crafting alternatives for welfare recipients in the areas of job training, support services, enabling mates or fathers to come back into the families. The bill still contains several flaws and features that I think represent a poison pill to the welfare reform concept. The welfare reform package currently, again, has a twenty-four month cap on benefits to a recipient. I do not think removing these benefits after twenty-four months is a good idea for South Carolina.

It is important that we be realistic and understand that individuals on welfare in this State find themselves in a unique situation. For example, we know in South Carolina that individuals on welfare, typically in this State, stay on welfare less than two years, and have less than 2.7 children. We know, for example, that this State spends less than 1% of its budget on welfare reform. We know, for example, that there are currently only thirty-seven young women with children living independently on welfare in this State. We know, for example, that we have the 46th lowest welfare payout for AFDC in the country. We know that the abuses in welfare in this state simply are not of such a magnitude in nature as to necessitate the withdrawal of support for over 110,000 children in this State. 71% of all welfare recipients in this State are children, and we are talking about removing for them the ability to have clothing and shelter, the ability to have a decent quality of life by removing from them the minimum support that this State gives its welfare recipients.

I think that it is necessary for us to be honest in our efforts to reform welfare. Yes, the many positive things that this bill presents should indeed be incorporated into welfare reform. There should be a greater emphasis on personal responsibility. Yes, there should be a greater opportunity or efforts made to secure opportunities for employment; there should be sanctions put in place for those who don't cooperate; however, I think it is also necessary for us to be honest in this debate and to look at the actual circumstances in which these people find themselves and to be realistic in finding remedies for them, and it is for these reasons that I cannot support the present welfare reform bill, H. 3613.
Rep. JOSEPH H. NEAL

I am voting for H. 3613, the Welfare Reform Bill, although I have several reservations.

First, family planning for those in poverty is critical if parents are to become trained and employed. Every child born to a mother on welfare or a birth puts a mother on welfare mires her deeper into dependency.

Second, too many South Carolinians will never break the dependency cycle despite their best efforts; many will bounce back and forth on the welfare system, losing one low-paying job after another. These are the type people welfare was designed to help in the first place. The full House took out the very modest "safety net" that was in the Judiciary Committee amendment.

We must continue to work to correct the shortcomings of this bill. Perhaps House members will be ready to make the adjustments necessary to make this a good bill when it comes back from the Senate.

Rep. JOSEPH T. McELVEEN, JR.

I voted for H. 3613 (Welfare Reform). I support the concept of welfare reform, however, there were several key elements which I support which were not included in the bill. They were 1) child care provisions 2) family planning services 3) and additional "safety net" provisions after the

It is my feeling that the Senate will include these provisions in their version of the bill. I will continue to support this effort.
Rep. TIMOTHY C. WILKES

I was not present for the final vote on second reading on House Bill 3613. However, I was present all day and voted for passage of the bill each time amendments were offered. As a co-sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the Health Care/Social Service Subcommittee which provided funds for the first component for Welfare Reform in the budget, I wanted to state that had I been present on the final vote I would have voted for its passage and did vote for its passage on third reading.
Rep. JOHN G. FELDER

Due to a long standing commitment I had to leave the House floor before the final vote was taken on House Bill 3613.

I would like for the record to reflect that had I been present I would have voted in the affirmative.
Rep. JOHN W. RISER

Rep. HUFF moved that the House do now adjourn, which was adopted.

The Senate returned to the House with concurrence the following:

H. 3498 -- Reps. Breeland, Cobb-Hunter, Kelley, Scott, White, R. Smith, Howard, Govan, Wilder, Simrill, Wells, Richardson, Hines, Stoddard, Clyburn, Allison, McMahand, Neilson, L. Whipper, Cave, Shissias, Limbaugh, McKay, Keegan, Byrd, Stille, Anderson, Cain, Trotter, Sandifer, Davenport, Kinon, Mason, Phillips, Klauber, Limehouse, Jaskwhich, Fair, Huff, Herdklotz, Hutson, Elliott, Lloyd, Whatley, Walker, J. Brown, Rhoad, Cotty, Tripp, Wright, Moody-Lawrence, and S. Whipper: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MARCH 24-31, 1996, AS "SOUTH CAROLINA GLAUCOMA AWARENESS WEEK".

H. 3672 -- Reps. T. Brown and Thomas: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING KENNETH WRIGHT OF GEORGETOWN COUNTY FOR HIS ACTS OF HEROISM AND BRAVERY IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A FELLOW HUMAN BEING FROM A BURNING HOME.

H. 3673 -- Rep. T. Brown: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING DARELL NETTLES OF GEORGETOWN COUNTY FOR HIS ACTS OF HEROISM AND BRAVERY IN SAVING THE LIFE OF A FELLOW HUMAN BEING FROM A BURNING HOME.

H. 3680 -- Reps. Canty, Inabinett and Stuart: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING ROBERT W. DWYER OF SUMTER FOR HIS DEVOTION TO HIS NATION, STATE, AND COMMUNITY.

H. 3681 -- Rep. Keyserling: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND APPLAUDING THE EFFORTS OF MAIN STREET BEAUFORT, USA AND CELEBRATING ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY BY NOTING ITS MANY SUCCESSES.

H. 3682 -- Rep. Law: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE THE BERKELEY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, HEAD COACH JERRY BROWN AND HIS STAFF, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR WINNING THE CLASS AAAA DIVISION II STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION, DRIVE, AND HARD WORK OF THIS FINE TEAM OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND THEIR COACHES.

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The House assembled at 10:00 A.M.

Deliberations were opened with prayer by the Chaplain of the House of Representatives, the Rev. Dr. Alton C. Clark as follows:

O God, our Help and our Hope, teach us to know that in Your nearness there is wisdom that can save us from folly; in our darkness, there is light to lead us on; in our weakness, there is strength to fortify us; that even in our despair, we find courage and determination. Continue, then, to be near to shatter our insecurity, to shine through our blindness, to shame our lack of trust in You. Give us open ears, alert and quick to hear each whisper of Your Word as we conduct ourselves in the full knowledge that "You are nearer to us than breathing and closer to us than hands and feet."

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.

After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.

Rep. WELLS moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Thomas Moore of Spartanburg, which was agreed to.

The Report of the Joint Legislative Committee to Study Consumer Finance Issues was received and will be printed in the Senate Journal on Friday, March 3.

Rep. QUINN, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report, on:

Invitation of The S.C. Women Involved in Farm Economics (WIFE) for breakfast, March 16, 1995, 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. in the lower lobby of the State House.

The invitation was accepted.

Rep. QUINN, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report, on:

Invitation of S.C. General Assembly Women's Caucus for a reception, March 29, 1995, 6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the State Museum.

The invitation was accepted.

Rep. QUINN, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report, on:

H. 3645 -- Rep. J. Harris: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO INVITE THE WINNERS OF THE 1995 SOUTH CAROLINA FOLK HERITAGE AWARDS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 1995 SOUTH CAROLINA FOLK HERITAGE AWARDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ATTEND A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1995, AT 12:00 NOON, AND TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE 1995 SOUTH CAROLINA FOLK HERITAGE AWARD WINNERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO FOLK ART IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

On motion of Rep. J. HARRIS, with unanimous consent, the following Concurrent Resolution was taken up for immediate consideration.

H. 3645 -- Rep. J. Harris: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO INVITE THE WINNERS OF THE 1995 SOUTH CAROLINA FOLK HERITAGE AWARDS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE 1995 SOUTH CAROLINA FOLK HERITAGE AWARDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ATTEND A JOINT SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1995,

Whereas, in 1987 the General Assembly created the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award, to be presented each year by the General Assembly to South Carolina folk artists who have used their lives to create beauty and meaning for their communities and for their State in ways that are significant because their work has lasted, often for hundreds of years; and

Whereas, the winners of the 1995 South Carolina Folk Heritage Awards are citizens who have maintained and enriched the lives of all persons of their communities and of the State through their unique talents and through their substantial contributions to the traditional heritage of South Carolina; and

Whereas, the 1995 South Carolina Folk Heritage Awards Advisory Committee has performed its duties admirably. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly invite the winners of the 1995 South Carolina Folk Heritage Awards and the members of the 1995 South Carolina Folk Heritage Awards Advisory Committee to attend a joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the Hall of the House of Representatives at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, April 19, 1995, and that the members of the General Assembly recognize and commend the 1995 South Carolina Folk Heritage Award winners for their outstanding contributions to folk art in South Carolina.

The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the Senate.

Rep. QUINN, from the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions, submitted a favorable report, on:

H. 3692 -- Rep. Kelley: A HOUSE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ADOPT H. R. 842, THE "TRUTH IN BUDGETING ACT".

On motion of Rep. KELLEY, with unanimous consent, the following House Resolution was taken up for immediate consideration:

H. 3692 -- Rep. Kelley: A HOUSE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ADOPT H. R. 842, THE "TRUTH IN BUDGETING ACT".

Whereas, the Highway Trust Fund, the Aviation Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are wholly user-financed and do not contribute to the federal deficit; and

Whereas, a $33 billion cash balance ($18.5 billion unobligated balance) is languishing in these trust fund accounts as an accounting measure designed to mask the actual size of the federal deficit and federal spending in other areas; and

Whereas, each time a motorist purchases gasoline or a traveler buys an airline ticket, user fees are paid into the Highway and Aviation Trust Funds; and

Whereas, Congress imposed these fees with the assurance to the American public that they would be spent on infrastructure improvements; and

Whereas, investment in infrastructure helps productivity, creates jobs, and is essential for economic growth, and infrastructure spending is one area that has widespread public support and actually provides a return on taxpayer investment; and

Whereas, by combining these trust funds with the federal General Fund Budget, these trust fund balances have accrued at the expense of billions of dollars in productivity and safety; and

Whereas, H. R. 842, the "Truth in Budgeting Act", removes the Highway Trust Fund, Aviation Trust Fund, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund from the General Fund Budget, restores integrity to the trust funds which are user-financed, self-supporting, and directed at specific needs, and restores integrity to the General Fund Budget whose real deficits are currently masked by these trust funds.. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the General Assembly memorialize the Congress of the United States to adopt H. R. 842, the "Truth in Budgeting Act".

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of the United States

The Resolution was adopted.

The following was introduced:

H. 3719 -- Rep. Anderson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE REVEREND OLIVER T. HILL OF GREENVILLE COUNTY ON HIS SILVER ANNIVERSARY AS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, AND COMMENDING THIS GREAT LEADER FOR HIS DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO HUMANITY.

The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.

The following was introduced:

H. 3720 -- Reps. Martin, Huff, Meacham, R. Smith, Hallman, Littlejohn, Cobb-Hunter, Herdklotz, Seithel, Whatley, McCraw, Simrill, Cooper, Thomas, Jennings, Baxley, Vaughn, Easterday, Fair, Cato, Sandifer, Fulmer, Stoddard, Limbaugh, Lanford, Trotter, Robinson, Walker, Davenport, Rice, Waldrop, D. Smith, Delleney, Stille, Gamble, Law and Klauber: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO REFRAIN FROM PASSING ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INFRINGE UPON STATES' RIGHTS.

The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

The following was introduced:

H. 3721 -- Reps. Cain, Byrd, Chamblee, Cooper, Elliott, Fair, Fulmer, Hallman, P. Harris, Harwell, Herdklotz, Hutson, Jaskwhich, Klauber, Koon, Lanford, Limehouse, Mason, Neal, Sandifer, D. Smith, Stoddard, Tripp, Tucker, Wilder, Wright, A. Young and J. Young: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR THE UNITED STATES FISH HATCHERY IN OCONEE COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, OR AT A

The Concurrent Resolution was ordered referred to the Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.

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