Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 104 and ask that it be reported by number.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, the American people are the most generous people in the world. In our country, if you are hungry, we will feed you. If you are homeless, we will try to house you. If you are sick, we will pay for your doctor. I am very proud of that, and I know you are too. However, those who can work should work. Those who can work should work.

A person without a job is not healthy, not happy, and not free. History has demonstrated that the best social program is a job. The best social program is a job. Free enterprise has lifted more people out of poverty than all the social programs put together. So while we should continue to be generous to our neighbors as Americans, we also need to repeat and repeat often: Those who can work should work.

My amendment would make the food stamp work requirement in this bill permanent. It would remove the sunset.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Yes, Madam President.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Thank you, Madam President.

I think we all know the June 5 deadline is a fiction. It is. We know that. We know that the Treasury Secretary can take special measures to extend the deadline until the middle of June, when tax revenues will come in. I understand the need to go ahead and act, but we all know that.

Let me say it again. Those who can work should work. Those who can work should work, and that is all my amendment does. Vote on Amendment No. 104

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, it is late, and I will be candid.

To my colleagues, I say, not a single one of you is a dummy. Not a single one of your mothers raised a fool, and if she did, it was one of your siblings. We all know that a pay-go requirement for a regulation that can be waived by the proponent of the regulation is meaningless.

This amendment will provide that the pay-go requirement cannot be waived.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 102 and ask that it be reported by number.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, this is the last amendment of the evening. I have 3 minutes. I can read a room, and I can count votes.

This amendment would require States to use the most up-to-date unemployment data for waivers of food stamp work requirements. Thank you.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President.

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, I will accept a voice vote. Vote on Amendment No. 102

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