[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Rockfeller, Ms. 
        Snowe, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Murray, 
        Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Schumer, 
        Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Torricelli):
  S. 501. 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 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.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues, Senators 
Jeffords, Rockefeller, and Snowe, to introduce the Social Services 
Block Grant Restoration Act of 2001. This important block grant, 
commonly known as ``SSBG,'' is more than just money.
  When SSBG was written into law two decades ago, the goals were 
spelled out clearly. SSBG was created to ``prevent, reduce or eliminate 
dependency.'' It exists to help people ``achieve or maintain self-
sufficiency.'' It meant to ``prevent or remedy neglect, abuse or 
exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own 
interests,'' and for ``preserving, rehabilitating or reuniting 
families.''
  In other words, SSBG is a commitment on the part of this country to 
the most vulnerable members of our society. SSBG has become a 
commitment by this country to help address the pressing needs of many 
of our senior citizens. SSBG dollars are used to provide training 
services for those making the transition from welfare to work.
  It is a commitment to protect children. It is a commitment to those 
in need of mental health services and those with disabilities. It is a 
commitment to states that the federal government recognizes and shares 
the responsibility for providing human services programs.
  For too long we shrugged off this commitment and directed these vital 
federal dollars to other programs. Data from the Department of Health 
and Human Services shows how many lives this has affected.
  In 1998, SSBG accounted for 25 percent of all federal, state, and 
local expenditures for services for the disabled; 24 percent of all 
expenditures for child protective services; and 22 percent of all 
expenditures for adult protective services.
  The state of Florida relies on SSBG for 25 percent of its budget to 
protect abused and neglected elderly persons.
  These are all programs that touch the lives of the people who sent us 
here--people who are rarely able to lobby us here in our nation's 
Capitol. This program directly relates to the goals that the new 
markets tax credit would achieve--enhancing peoples' lives and giving 
vulnerable communities the ability to thrive.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this critical piece 
of legislation.

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