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Crunch time for Congress
Members act on welfare, health care reform
August 1, 1996
Web posted at: 11:30 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pushing to pass legislation before members leave for a monthlong recess, Congress acted on a number of bills Thursday, including sending President Clinton a historic welfare reform bill.
With a vote of 78 to 21, the Senate followed the House's lead and passed the final version of the compromise welfare bill. Clinton, who vetoed two previous versions, has pledged to sign it.
The bill turns control of welfare over to the states; limits lifetime benefits to five years; requires adults to work after two years; and denies assistance to noncitizens, even those who are in the United States legally.
Clinton considers the last provision extreme, along with the bill's food stamp cuts, and said he'll work to change them.
Before the Senate voted, protesters from the group Housing Works, which helps AIDS-infected homeless people, stood up in the Senate chamber and shouted "Shame! Shame!" (155K AIFF or WAV sound) One blew a whistle. Ten demonstrators were arrested. (251K AIFF or WAV sound)
In other action:
The House breezed through the conference report for health insurance reform, overwhelmingly passing it, 421-2.
The measure lets workers keep their insurance even though they change jobs, limits pre-existing condition exclusions by insurance companies and health maintenance organizations and allows someone who leaves a group insurance plan to purchase an individual insurance policy.
The Senate is expected to approve the conference report on Friday. Clinton said he will sign the measure.
Related stories:
- Allpolitics - Liberals Upset With Clinton On Welfare Reform - August 1, 1996
- In the end, children may be hurt most by welfare changes - July 25, 1996
- Welfare bill: Senate roll call - July 24, 1996
- Senate passes historic welfare overhaul - July 24, 1996
Related sites:
- Welfare and Families from Idea Central
- Common Sense Welfare Reform Act from the Progress and Freedom Foundation
- Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor
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