[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7521-H7524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3774) to extend the deadline for Social Services Block Grant 
expenditures of supplemental funds appropriated following disasters 
occurring in 2008.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3774

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF EXPENDITURE DEADLINE OF SOCIAL 
                   SERVICES BLOCK GRANT DISASTER FUNDING.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, amounts made 
     available to the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     Administration for Children and Families, under the heading 
     ``Social Services Block Grant'' under chapter 7 of division B 
     of Public Law 110-329, shall remain available for expenditure 
     through September 30, 2011.

     SEC. 2. BUDGETARY PROVISIONS.

       (a) Statutory PAYGO.--The budgetary effects of this Act, 
     for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
     Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest 
     statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' 
     for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
     Record by the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, 
     provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
     vote on passage.
       (b) Emergency Designations.--This Act--
       (1) is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to 
     section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 
     (Public Law 111-139; 2 U.S.C. 933(g));
       (2) in the House of Representatives, is designated as an 
     emergency for purposes of pay-as-you-go principles; and
       (3) in the Senate, is designated as an emergency 
     requirement and necessary to meet emergency needs pursuant to 
     section 403(a) of S. Con. Res. 13 (111th Congress), the 
     concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. McDermott) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny 
Brown-Waite) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. 3774.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3774, 
which extends the deadline for the use of supplemental social service 
block grant funds, also known as SSBG, that were made available 
following the disasters that occurred in 2008.
  This extension would provide a 1-year extension for the use of 
supplemental SSBG grant funds that were appropriated in the Disaster 
Assistance and Continuing Appropriation Act of 2009 in response to the 
natural disasters that occurred in 2008. The legislation provided $600 
million for disaster recovery for States affected by hurricane, floods, 
and other natural disasters that occurred in the year 2008.
  Over 60 percent of the money that was appropriated has been spent, 
leaving a great deal of funding available to address the ongoing needs 
in States that have been adversely affected by natural disasters. While 
a number of States have been successful in quickly drawing down the 
funds that were available to support disaster cleanup, many others need 
additional time to utilize the resources effectively.
  The legislation follows a precedent that was established by the 
Congress in recent years when we acted to extend the availability of 
supplemental SSBG funds that were appropriated for the recovery efforts 
following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These funds were extended for a 
2-year period to allow additional time for affected States to make use 
of these resources.
  Additionally, the legislation is PAYGO compliant and will not add one 
dime to the Federal deficit. The funding has already been allocated. 
The bill simply makes the appropriation available for an additional 
year.
  The legislation, which passed the Senate in late September by 
unanimous consent, is very similar to a bill

[[Page H7522]]

that was introduced in the House by Representative Pete Olson that has 
bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 
3774.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman on the 
other side very aptly summarized what this bill does so I will not 
repeat that.
  In my home State of Florida, according to State officials, more time 
for this appropriation is absolutely vital but we're not alone. The 
latest HHS data suggests another 15 States had unexpended funds. Just 
like in Florida, residents of those States affected by the 2008 natural 
disasters stand to benefit from the additional flexibility resulting 
from this legislation.
  Significantly, the Congressional Budget Office says that the bill 
will not add to the deficit. It would simply change the timing for the 
spending already approved of these funds. It is also important to note 
that this same sort of flexibility had previously been granted for 
recovery funds in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. So it makes 
sense to provide similar treatment for funds provided in the wake of 
the 2008 natural disasters, and I'm very pleased to support this 
legislation that will accomplish that.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman, and 
particularly, I thank the Ways and Means Committee, both the managers 
on the floor today, Mr. McDermott and Ms. Brown-Waite, for their 
leadership, and I thank the entire Texas delegation and as well my good 
friend Mr. Olson, who I know will be appearing on the floor, for his 
leadership, along with Mr. Cornyn.
  We worked together. This is a bipartisan effort and I am glad to be 
on the floor because we tried to do this on September 29, and I don't 
think we made our story clear. This is not a Texas issue. In fact, this 
issue impacts all of the disasters that occurred in 2008, and I would 
like to, Mr. Speaker, simply call some of the names: The State of 
Colorado, the State of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, the State of Iowa, 
the State of Mississippi, the State of Missouri, the States of Nevada, 
Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia, among the many that did not get a 
chance to help the desperate.
  And so I'd like to particularly thank today, in addition to the 
members of the Texas delegation, Majority Leader Hoyer, who continued 
to work with us and to ensure that we can move this as quickly as 
possible; and his staff, Terry Lierman and Austin Burnes, who also 
worked closely with my staff, Yohannes Tsehai and Shashrina Thomas, to 
bring this to the floor along with my colleagues.

                              {time}  1910

  Thousands of families who were victims of Hurricane Ike stopped 
receiving SSBG funds September 30, 2010, because the legislatively 
mandated deadline for these funds expired. We made and I made concerted 
efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services, and I would 
like to introduce into the Record a letter written by my office on 
September 21, 2010, as well as a letter written back from the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, October 1, 2010, from which I read this 
sentence: ``As soon as Congress restores the availability of Hurricane 
Ike SSBG funding, we will work expeditiously to implement the 
legislation and make the funds available to those doing the important 
work of assisting victims rebuild their lives.''
  There lies the story, Mr. Speaker. Rebuilding lives. For those of us 
who walked the streets after Hurricane Ike and for the many Members of 
Congress who walked the streets of their respective disasters, we know 
what disasters are all about. Not bricks and mortar. Disasters are 
about the human devastation that faces individuals, lost and lonely, 
not knowing where to go.
  Hurricane Ike was the third-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall 
in the United States. Ike made its final landfall near Galveston, 
Texas, a strong Category 2 hurricane with a Category 5 equivalent storm 
surge. It devastated the island, but it also impacted Houston and my 
congressional district. It was a huge hurricane, some 500 miles across, 
making it nearly as big as Texas itself, and its hurricane-force winds 
extended 120 miles from the center. It was blamed for at least 195 
deaths overall, with substantial death and injury in Texas.
  The hurricane also resulted in the largest evacuation of Texas in the 
State's history. An estimated 100,000 homes were flooded in Texas, 
numerous boats washed away, smashing and flooding homes, knocking out 
windows, cutting electricity to an estimated 2.8 million to 4.5 
million. Most of the people were devastated because the electricity 
went out for almost 8 weeks. And they were individuals without the 
ability to go to work and their jobs were cut off. So these dollars 
will not be misused.
  The important point of this legislation is, there is a PAYGO 
provision in it. It will not spend more money. It will only have the 
opportunity to use the dollars that are already there. For those of us 
who have faced disaster, whether it is Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane 
Rita, the floods in the Midwest, or the various tornadoes that occur 
throughout our area, or the hurricanes that seem to come every year to 
the gulf region, I can assure you that these dollars are coming none 
too soon.
  I want to thank the administration's Secretary Sebelius who has 
indicated that they will move quickly. As this bill passes, we hope 
that this will move quickly to the President's desk, the bill is 
signed, and these moneys will come forward.
  Let me acknowledge the groups that we have worked with: Angela 
Blanchard of the Neighborhood Centers; Harold Fattig of Catholic 
Charities; Mr. Raimer of the University of Texas Medical Branch; Mark 
Minick of Lutheran Social Services; Kristi Allen, Bay Area Council; 
Stephanie Carmona, Sunshine Center; United Way, Anna Babin; Kenna Bush, 
United Way of Galveston; Carolyn Rose of the Gulf Coast Center; Joe 
Compian, Gulf Coast Interfaith; Galveston County Food Bank, Mark Davis; 
Cindy Schulz; and a very strong worker in Ruama Camp, who worked 
throughout the area with people who could find no way themselves.
  So this money will come and help those who are in need of these 
dollars posthaste. It extends the deadline until September 30, 2011. 
The bill does not appropriate new funds, as I indicated; and as you 
well know, they've extended this in years past with Katrina and Rita.
  It's a terrible shame to say that people who need help are those who 
are costing us money. Today, Mr. Speaker, they're not costing us money. 
We're helping those who are hardworking Americans. I'm delighted to be 
able to support this legislation. I ask my colleagues to do it. Never 
forget, we have a role of being a good Samaritan. If you were in need, 
you would want help. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

                                     House of Representatives,

                               Washington, DC, September 21, 2010.
     Hon. Kathleen Sebelius,
     Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Secretary Sebelius: In early 2009, in the aftermath of 
     Hurricane Ike, the State of Texas received $219 million in 
     recovery funds under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) 
     program from the Department of Health and Human Services 
     (HHS). As you know under federal law, if these grant funds 
     are not spent by September 30, 2010, these funds will be 
     permanently returned to the federal treasury.
       Hurricane Ike has wreaked havoc on Texas, particularly in 
     Galveston and Houston. As we move forward with recovery 
     efforts, it is clear that the impact of this storm has been 
     widespread and many people are still in need of assistance. 
     Unfortunately, Texans are still in need of help, especially 
     the neglected residents of North Galveston. More than 60 
     Americans and over 26 Texans have died as a result of 
     Hurricane Ike. In addition, the hurricane has caused millions 
     of dollars in damage throughout Houston and Galveston. The 
     local agencies processing the people impacted by Hurricane 
     Ike for which these funds were utilized, received these funds 
     from the state and federal agencies six months late, and 
     therefore have not been able to complete the process of 
     serving the families impacted by Hurricane Ike. Losing these 
     funds on September 30, 2010 will result in the terrible 
     tragedy for the many people that are still suffering from the 
     effect of one of the most costliest hurricanes in our region. 
     Therefore, I am requesting an extension of an additional six 
     months from September 30, 2010, for social services agencies 
     throughout the State of Texas to utilize these grant funds.

[[Page H7523]]

       Once again, I ask that you strongly consider extending the 
     deadline for the $219 million in recovery funds under SSBG 
     for an additional six months from September 30, 2010. I have 
     the support of my Congressional colleagues from Texas in my 
     efforts to ensure that Houston and Texas receive the funds we 
     so desperately need on the road to recovery. Thank you for 
     your consideration to this urgent matter.
           Very truly yours,
                                               Sheila Jackson Lee,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____

                                           The Secretary of Health


                                           and Human Services,

                                  Washington, DC, October 1, 2010.
     Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Jackson Lee: I write in response to 
     your letter of September 21, 2010, concerning the expiration 
     of Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds that Texas 
     received to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Ike. I 
     asked our General Counsel to review this issue further to see 
     if there were any possible avenues to extend the availability 
     of these funds. Unfortunately, the original statutory 
     language providing the funds does not give me the authority 
     to extend their availability.
       Ike was one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the 
     Gulf Coast. The work of recovery has been arduous, and I 
     thank the individuals and organizations who have been helping 
     those who have suffered because of the hurricane. Their 
     efforts should be commended. We want to support them as much 
     as we can.
       I recognize that the Senate has passed legislation making 
     these funds available for another fiscal year and that 
     Majority Leader Hoyer has affirmed plans for the House of 
     Representatives to consider the matter when Congress returns 
     in November. As soon as Congress restores the availability of 
     Hurricane Ike SSBG funding, we will work expeditiously to 
     implement the legislation and make the funds available to 
     those doing the important work of assisting victims rebuild 
     their lives.
       I thank you for your leadership in helping these families 
     and organizations.
           Sincerely,
                                                Kathleen Sebelius.

  I rise today in strong support of S. 3774, to extend the deadline for 
Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) expenditures of supplemental funds 
appropriated following the disasters that occurred in 2008, 
particularly Hurricane Ike. I would like to thank all the Members and 
their staffs who worked in a collaborative and bi-partisan manner to 
bring this essential legislation to the House floor today. I would like 
to especially thank Majority Leader Hoyer and Terry Lierman and Austin 
Burnes of his staff, who worked closely with Yohannes Tsehai and 
Shashrina Thomas of my staff, to bring this important legislation to 
the House floor today.
  Thousands of families who were victims of Hurricane Ike stopped 
receiving SSBG funds on September 30, 2010, because the legislatively 
mandated deadline for these funds expired. I made concerted efforts 
with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to extend this 
deadline administratively, but they determined that they needed 
legislative authority to extend these funds. I would like to thank 
Secretary Sebelius and the Department of Health and Human Services for 
responding favorably to my request to expeditiously implement this 
legislation as soon as it passes and make the funds available to those 
organizations assisting victims on the road to recovery. I would also 
like to thank HHS Regional Director Marge Petty who accepted my 
invitation to come down to Houston and meet with the organizations in 
Houston and Galveston who are assisting thousands of families with home 
repairs and other unmet needs.
  Some of the organizations who have been instrumental in these efforts 
include Neighborhood Centers Inc., Catholic Charities, the United Way, 
Gulf Coast Interfaith, and the University of Texas Medical Branch, to 
name a few. Moreover, I think it is crucial that we are providing this 
legislative authority today before the Thanksgiving holiday so that 
these families can continue on their road to recovery from the 
devastation of Hurricane Ike.
  Hurricane Ike was the third costliest hurricane ever to make landfall 
in the United States, behind Hurricane Andrew of 1992 and Hurricane 
Katrina of 2005. Ike made its final landfall near Galveston, Texas as a 
strong Category 2 hurricane, with a Category 5 equivalent storm surge. 
Ike was a huge hurricane--some 500 miles across, making it nearly as 
big as Texas itself, and its hurricane-force winds extended 120 miles 
from the center.
  Ike was blamed for at least 195 deaths overall, with substantial 
death and injury in Texas. The hurricane also resulted in the largest 
evacuation of Texans in this State's history; subsequently it became 
the largest search and rescue operation in U.S. history. The effects of 
Hurricane Ike in Texas have been crippling and long-lasting. An 
estimated 100,000 homes were flooded in Texas, and numerous boats 
washed ashore, smashing and flooding thousands of homes, knocking out 
windows in Houston's skyscrapers, uprooting trees, and cutting 
electricity to an estimated 2.8 million to 4.5 million customers for 
weeks and months. Galveston was declared uninhabitable, and Houston 
imposed a week-long nighttime curfew due to limited electric power.
  When Hurricane Ike devastated Texas in September 2008, I immediately 
began to work with the Members of the Texas Congressional delegation to 
ensure Texas was appropriated recovery funds it so desperately needed. 
In early 2009, the State of Texas received part of these recovery 
funds, almost $219 million under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) 
program from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
Although more than $174 million of this have been drawn down, there 
remains over $44 million to Texas that cannot be utilized without 
today's extension. Furthermore, of the total $600 million in SSBG 
funding appropriated in 2009, there also remains more than $152 million 
for 14 States that can be used with the passage of S. 3774.
  What has now taken place until today's legislation passes is that 
SSBG funds which were not utilized by September 30, 2010, were made 
permanently unavailable for the thousands of Hurricane Ike victims who 
have been waiting for the completion of social services and their homes 
to be restored. It would be devastating to Hurricane Ike victims to 
lose these funds, especially when many of their homes are in the middle 
of repairs. Furthermore, the numerous local agencies assisting and 
processing the cases of families impacted by Hurricane Ike, received 
these funds from the state and federal agencies many months late due to 
administrative delays. These delays have caused the agencies to not be 
able to complete the process of serving everyone impacted by Hurricane 
Ike since they did not get the benefit of the two years that Congress 
had intended.
  The effects of Hurricane Ike on Texas were drastic and far reaching, 
affecting hundreds of thousands of people. According to FEMA, within 
the first week following the disaster, nearly 438,000 individuals or 
families had registered for individual assistance. By the end of the 
registration period in February 2009, a total of 734,000 Texans had 
registered with FEMA for individual assistance. Hurricane Ike destroyed 
17,000 homes in Harris County alone.
  Due to the lapse in the reimbursement of SSBG funds, many victims are 
unable to access services critical to their recovery such as unfinished 
home repairs, unmet needs, mental and physical healthcare, employment 
services, transportation and legal services. All of these issues are 
currently being aggravated until these funds to these victims' resumes. 
Once this extension is granted, not only will these families resume 
services, this extension will not require any additional funding. 
According to the Congressional Budget Office who have scored this 
legislation, this bill will not have a budget authority (BA) effect, 
but rather only an outlay effect on the timing of payments. Finally, 
there is also recent precedence for extending these types of disaster 
funds. Congress routinely extended the deadline for similar funds given 
to Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.
  Once this legislation passes, I will continue to work with the 
Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that funding for 
social services agencies throughout the State of Texas is provided as 
expeditiously as possible so that the victims of Hurricane Ike receive 
the assistance they so desperately need on their road to recovery.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this essential 
legislation.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson) who was forward-thinking enough to 
introduce this legislation to begin with.
  Mr. OLSON. I thank my colleague from Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senate bill 3774. I 
introduced companion legislation, H.R. 5790, which would do the same 
thing as this good bill. Two years ago, Hurricane Ike tore through the 
Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in Galveston, Texas. It was the 
largest hurricane ever, ever to make landfall in the United States. Ike 
slammed into Galveston as a Category 2 hurricane but with a storm surge 
equivalent to that of a Category 4 storm, causing damages estimated at 
$18 billion. Over 200 people lost their lives.
  Two years later, what Ike destroyed in 12 hours continues to be 
rebuilt. In response to the storm, an emergency appropriations bill was 
passed for the purpose of assisting the victims of Ike. The funding 
came with a deadline that the State of Texas and the local communities 
now need extended. This is

[[Page H7524]]

not without precedent. A similar extension was granted for victims of 
Hurricane Katrina.
  In the process of recovering from Ike, please consider that Catholic 
Charities reports that there are over 3,500 families in Galveston who 
are in the process of getting their homes repaired or replaced who 
still need rent assistance. The Gulf Coast Center in Galveston and 
Brazoria Counties is working with 19 agencies to provide mental health 
support and counseling to 3,000 clients each month who are still 
suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ike on their lives. The 
University of Texas Medical Branch reports that they are providing food 
assistance, medical care, and case management to 20,000 households each 
month. This will end without an extension.
  In the words of one leader at the United Way, ``We are not asking to 
access more funding, only to finish what we started.'' Do I wish this 
extension was not needed? Of course. We all do. But it is needed, and I 
ask that this Chamber join me in doing what is right and fair for a 
community that lost so much 2 years ago. I urge my colleagues to vote 
for Senate bill 3774, so the people of southeast Texas can finally put 
Hurricane Ike in their past.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
3774, which would extend the deadline for Social Services Block Grant 
expenditures of supplemental funds appropriated following disasters 
occurring in 2008.
  The FY2009 Supplemental Appropriation included funding for disasters 
that occurred in 2008. This included $600 million in Social Services 
Block Grant (SSBG) funding eligible to be used for a wide variety of 
social services to assist in disaster recovery.
  In the wake of Hurricane Ike, a total of 734,000 Texans had 
registered with FEMA for individual assistance and 17,000 homes in 
Harris County were destroyed.
  Due to the magnitude of Ike, the State of Texas received $219 million 
in recovery funds under the Social Services Block Grant program from 
the Department of Health and Human Services.
  Under federal law, these SSBG funds must be spent by September 30, 
2010. Any money not spent by that time must be returned to the federal 
Treasury. Texas currently has $44 million in funding that will revert 
back to the federal government.
  Many entities and local governments in Texas have expressed 
difficulty in meeting the September 30, 2010 deadline and are 
requesting a one year extension to September 30, 2011.
  Although there have been significant successes through the recovery 
process, significant needs remain. In the Greater Houston area, more 
than 2,500 families in case management still cite needs in the area of 
home repair and/or unmet needs.
  It is important to note that Texas is not the only state that would 
lose access to these funds--16 other states have remaining funds and an 
extension would assist those states as well.
  A similar extension was granted by Congress for Hurricane Katrina 
SSBG disaster recovery funds. It is also important to note that this 
bill involves no new spending. The SSBG grant funds were released and 
dispersed to the states over a year ago. This bill will only give those 
who need it, extra time to expend these needed funds as they continue 
to recover from Hurricane Ike.
  Senator Cornyn's legislation, S. 3774, passed out of the Senate on a 
unanimous consent. It would extend the deadline for Social Services 
Block Grant expenditures of supplemental funds appropriated following 
disasters occurring in 2008 for one year from September 30, 2010 to 
September 30, 2011.
  Before the House recessed on September 29 we tried to bring up this 
legislation, but it came over from the Senate very late and we were 
unable to come to an agreement to bring up the legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to allow the states 
impacted by disasters that occurred in 2008.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time. And with that, I would ask for support of this bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 3774.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________