[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 956 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 956

To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act to restore funding 
 for the Social Services Block Grant, and restore for fiscal year 2002 
 the ability of States to transfer up to 10 percent of funds from the 
 program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy 
families to carry out activities under the Social Services Block Grant.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2001

 Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
 Maloney of Connecticut, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. 
   Shays, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. 
 Maloney of New York, Mr. Rangel, Mr. English, Mr. Frost, Mr. McNulty, 
    Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Houghton, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Frank, Mr. 
Baldacci, Mr. Camp, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Coyne, Mr. 
  Matsui, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Saxton, Mr. McDermott, Mr. George Miller of 
 California, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Baldwin, 
 Mr. Ramstad, Mrs. Morella, Mr. Barrett, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Lee, Mr. 
 Abercrombie, Mr. Hayworth, Mr. DeLauro, Mr. Hall of Ohio, Mr. Engel, 
  Mr. Simmons, Mr. Sandlin, Mr. Kleczka, and Mr. Shaw) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act to restore funding 
 for the Social Services Block Grant, and restore for fiscal year 2002 
 the ability of States to transfer up to 10 percent of funds from the 
 program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy 
families to carry out activities under the Social Services Block Grant.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Since 1975, title XX of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1397 et seq.), commonly referred to as the Social 
        Services Block Grant (in this section referred to as ``SSBG''), 
        has authorized funding for social services to ensure that at-
        risk children and families, the elderly, and physically and 
        mentally disabled individuals remain stable, independent, and 
        economically self sufficient. In 1981, Congress and the Reagan 
        Administration converted SSBG into a block grant designed to 
        give maximum flexibility to States to serve these fundamental 
        purposes.
            (2) Funds provided under the SSBG focus cost-effective 
        support at the community level that prevents the need for 
        inappropriate institutional care which is more costly for 
        Federal and State programs such as the medicaid, medicare, and 
        the social services disability benefits programs.
            (3) The SSBG helps to further the goals set forth in the 
        Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
        of 1996 (Public Law 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105) by supporting 
        Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and support-
        related programs such as on-the-job training, child care, 
        transportation, counseling, and other services that facilitate 
        long-term family stability and economic self sufficiency.
            (4) The SSBG provides essential funding to many States for 
        child welfare services that support the goals of the Adoption 
        and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89; 111 Stat. 
        2115) to promote a safe family environment and encourage 
        adoption to move children into stable and permanent families.
            (5) The SSBG helps promote independent living for 
        vulnerable and low-income elderly individuals by supporting 
        home care services, including home-delivered meals, adult 
        protective services, adult day care, and other essential case 
        management services provided in every State.
            (6) It is reported that 820,000 older Americans are abused 
        and neglected in this country each year. There are additional 
        concerns about the under reporting of elderly abuse and 
        neglect. The SSBG supports adult protective services that 
        prevent widespread abuse and neglect of older Americans and 
        help more than 651,000 elderly individuals in 31 States.
            (7) More than 570,000 disabled individuals receive a range 
        of community-based services and supports nationwide. The SSBG 
        provides significant resources to fill the funding gaps in the 
        developmental disabilities system by supporting such services 
        as early intervention and crisis intervention, adult day care, 
        respite care, transportation, employment training, and 
        independent living services in 38 States.
            (8) The SSBG supports essential mental health and related 
        services to ensure that vulnerable adults and children receive 
        early intervention to prevent more serious and costly mental 
        health crises in the future. Such services include the 
        provision of counseling to almost 400,000 adults and children, 
        case management services for nearly 900,000 families, and the 
        provision of information and referral assistance to more than 
        1,300,000 individuals.
            (9) There are nearly 3,000,000 reports of child abuse and 
        neglect each year. There are currently over 300,000 children in 
        the American foster care system. The SSBG enables the provision 
        of child protective services to 1,300,000 children, adoption 
        services to over 150,000 children and families, and prevention 
        and intervention services to more than 700,000 families.
            (10) The SSBG has been eroded by more than $1,000,000,000 
        over the last 6 years resulting in  cuts in services in many 
States and local communities.
            (11) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) block 
        grants cannot be used to make up cuts to the SSBG because a 
        large percentage of SSBG funds are used for the elderly, 
        disabled, and other populations that are ineligible for TANF 
        funds.
            (12) The 104th Congress made a commitment to the SSBG in 
        the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation 
        Act of 1996 by authorizing the program at $2,380,000,000 
        through fiscal year 2002 and returning the authorization for 
        the program to $2,800,000,000 in fiscal year 2003 and each 
        succeeding fiscal year.

SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER UP TO 10 PERCENT OF TANF 
              FUNDS TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 
              2002.

    (a) In General.--Section 404(d)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 604(d)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(B) Applicable percent.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the applicable percent is--
                            ``(i) 10 percent in the case of fiscal year 
                        2001; and
                            ``(ii) 10 percent in the case of fiscal 
                        year 2002.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2001.

SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF FUNDS FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.

    (a) In General.--Section 2003(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1397b(c)) is amended by striking paragraphs (10) and (11) and 
inserting the following:
            ``(10) $1,775,000,000 for the fiscal year 2000;
            ``(11) $1,725,000,000 for the fiscal year 2001; and
            ``(12) $2,380,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2001.

SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 2006(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1397e(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``The 
Secretary shall compile the information submitted by the States and 
submit that information to Congress on an annual basis.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies 
to information submitted by States under section 2006 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397e) with respect to fiscal year 2000 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.
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