[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 17, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4114-S4115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. 
        Rockefeller):
  S. 2585. A bill to amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act 
to restore funding for the Social Services Block Grant, to restore the 
ability of the States to transfer up to 10 percent of TANF funds to 
carry out activities under such block grant, and to require an annual 
report on such activities by the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services; to the Committee on Finance.


               protecting the social services block grant

  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senators 
Jeffords, Grassley, and Rockefeller to introduce a bill to restore 
critical funding to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).
  Mr. President, the Social Services Block Grant, Title XX of the 
Social Security Act, was created in 1981 by combining funding for 
social services and related staff training, and was intended to be the 
primary source of federal funds for social services. Funds are 
allocated to states on a per capita basis and they can use them to 
address abuse and neglect and to encourage self sufficiency and 
independence.
  Since its creation, SSBG has successfully provided states with funds 
to address the social service needs they see as most pressing. States 
have broad flexibility in determining which services meet the needs of 
their unique populations, who should deliver the services and which 
families and individuals to serve. The array of needed programs covered 
under this important block grant range from adoption services to adult 
protective services--from home delivered meals to day care--from 
education and training programs to residential treatment services.
  In the 1996 welfare law, an agreement was made between Congress and 
the States to decrease the SSBG from $2.8b to $2.38b until welfare 
reform was firmly established. The Finance Committee guaranteed states 
that SSBG would be funded at $2.38 billion per year until FY03 when it 
would be restored to $2.8b. In order to allow them to continue to fund 
critical social service programs, Congress allowed states to transfer 
10 percent of its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block 
grant to SSBG. This was an important promise that has been broken. This 
legislation allows us to return to our promise and an agreement that 
was critical to the success of the new welfare system.
  As members of the Finance Committee, we have an acute understanding 
of the value of the programs over which we have oversight 
responsibilities. We have consistently worked, with some success, to 
ensure the foundation of SSBG.
  This overarching commitment was exemplified during the FY 2000 budget 
process. The Senate showed its bipartisan support for this important 
program by voting 57-39 to restore Title XX funding to its authorized 
level of $2.38 billion. Unfortunately, in the final omnibus 
appropriations bill, Title XX funding was cut from its authorized level 
of $2.38 billion to $1.775 billion. This $600 million cut is having a 
direct impact on the availability of necessary services for the 
nation's neediest citizens.

  This year, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and 
Human Services and Education has included draconian cuts to this 
critical program by decreasing the funding levels from $1.7 billion to 
$600 million. This level of reduction is simply unacceptable and would 
virtually bankrupt the program.
  Our bill would ensure that Title XX funds would remain available to 
support needed services for children and families in crisis. The block 
grant has also been one of the only funding sources available for 
community-based services for elderly and disabled persons. It is 
unconscionable that this critical source of funding for the most basic 
and necessary of social services has been cut by over $1 billion in a 
short five years, and that the Senate Appropriations Committee would 
suggest a billion dollar cut in one year alone.
  If adequate funding for this program is not restored to SSBG, 
vulnerable children, families, elderly, and disabled persons will be 
without the assistance they need to live independently. Title XX 
provides the support necessary for families in crisis, the elderly, and 
many persons with both physical and mental disabilities to live 
independently in the community. These funds also provide support 
through childcare and counseling, both of which are necessary for 
persons with multiple barriers to employment to successfully leave the 
TANF rolls.
  The importance of the Social Services Block Grant is not only 
recognized

[[Page S4115]]

by state and local governments, but also by non profit providers across 
the country who have joined together with governments in support of 
this block grant. Congress needs to also recognize the Social Services 
Block Grant as the critical safety-net program that it is, and pass our 
bill to restore funding to the levels necessary to keep our promise to 
our neediest citizens.
  I hope that my Senate colleagues will join us in cosponsoring this 
critical piece of legislation.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join my esteemed 
colleagues, Senators Graham and Jeffords, in introducing this important 
piece of legislation. Title XX, the Social Services Block Grant, is 
crucial to states. Congress needs to meet its earlier commitment to 
this program and restore funding to the level authorized in 1996.
  The Social Services Block Grant allows states the flexibility to fill 
in the gaps in their human services system. Through this funding, 
states, local governments and non-profit organizations can supplement 
other federal programs and leverage additional funding and resources to 
support an array of social service programs that are critical to those 
in need.
  Millions of elderly people have benefitted from Title XX as have 
hundreds of thousand of individuals with disabilities. States use these 
funds to help support crucial services such as respite care for the 
elderly, adult protective services, supported living and transportation 
for the disabled. In recent years, more than a quarter of these funds 
have been used to support children's services. Child protective 
services, foster care and adoption programs have all been supplemented 
with these funds.
  In my home state of Iowa, Social Services Block Grant funds are used 
to supplement numerous service programs. One program uses these funds 
to help transport individuals with developmental disabilities to their 
jobs and so that they may receive medical treatment. Funds are also 
used to help people with disabilities live in their communities, saving 
significant amounts of money that would otherwise go to caring for them 
in institutions.
  Congress has consistently cut this important program in order to pay 
for other things. It is time that we restore funding to the level we 
authorized in 1996. Without this funding, important services that 
protect children, the elderly and the disabled will not be provided. I 
urge my other colleagues in the Senate to support our efforts to 
restore this program to the necessary level of funding.

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