[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TITLE XX SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANTS

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to speak about some grave 
concerns I have regarding the dramatic and unprecedented cuts to Title 
XX, the Social Services Block Grant, in S. 1650, the Labor-Health and 
Human Services Appropriations bill.
  As I am sure many of my colleagues are aware, the Social Services 
Block Grant is currently authorized at $2.38 billion, but the Senate 
bill provides for only $1.05 billion, a reduction of more than 50%, for 
Fiscal Year 2000. In addition, it appears that the bill would also 
accelerate the reduction in transferability of Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families--or TANF--from 10% to 4.25%. In other words, not only 
has the appropriation been slashed in half, the ability of the states 
and counties to transfer other dollars into SSBG is also sharply 
reduced.
  My immediate reaction when I learned about these cuts to SSBG was 
enormous disappointment. When I travel through each of Wisconsin's 72 
counties each year holding town-meeting style listening sessions, many 
of my constituents have discussed with me the value and importance of 
SSBG funds in enabling the provision of vitally-needed services for 
some of our most vulnerable citizens. I have the benefit of a very 
engaged and active Counties Association to keep me informed about the 
importance of assuring SSBG funding.
  But perhaps not all of my colleagues share my good fortune in this 
respect, perhaps some of our colleagues are not aware of the value of 
SSBG funds in their own states and communities--that is the only reason 
I can think of why these cuts are included in the bill. In the event 
that that is the case, please allow me a few moments to elaborate on 
the important services that SSBG dollars fund in my home state of 
Wisconsin:
  Wisconsin counties received more than $42 million in SSBG dollars in 
FY 1997, the most recent year for which data is available. Those 
dollars provided services to Wisconsin's Seniors such as home meal 
delivery programs like meals-on-wheels, day programs for seniors, and 
supportive home care. SSBG dollars also help to provide crucial 
services to protect children, such as investigating potential child 
abuse cases and providing protective services for children who ARE 
being abused, and providing for after school programs so that children 
have a safe place to go in the afternoon. Throughout Wisconsin, SSBG 
dollars have enabled Wisconsin's counties to provide these services to 
283,964 Wisconsinites--many of whom will lose access to these services 
if SSBG is further cut.
  Lastly, let me illustrate what the impact of SSBG cuts means for some 
communities in Wisconsin: the Rainbow Center for Prevention of Child 
Abuse in Dane County, Wisconsin, will have to cut services for 130 
families. In Milwaukee County, 428 patients will not receive outpatient 
mental health care, and 550 adults seeking drug and alcohol abuse 
treatment will be turned away. Milwaukee County will also lose funding 
for more than 2,000 shelter nights for the homeless and victims of 
domestic violence.
  Mr. President, I hope that this short description of the many ways 
SSBG supports and strengthens counties and local communities helps to 
illustrate why a 50% reduction in funds will be so devastating. I hope 
that House and Senate conferees will restore SSBG to its authorized 
amount for Fiscal Year 2000 so that the counties who so rely on these 
funds will be able to provide the services our constituents need, 
services that are vital to supporting and strengthening our 
communities.
  I thank the Chair.

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