[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 100 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    CONTINUATION OF THE WIPA PROGRAM

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to express my disappointment 
and frustration that the Work Incentives Planning and Assistance 
program also known as WIPA run by the Social Security Administration is 
being shut down today. Congress has not acted to extend this important 
program and the Commissioner of Social Security does not believe he has 
the authority to continue the program. I disagree. I think he could 
continue this program under his broad authority to implement the Social 
Security Act. It is my belief that if he did that and that was contrary 
to congressional intent, Congress would express that disapproval 
through the appropriations process.
  Let me explain what the WIPA program does. Both the Social Security 
disability insurance, SSDI, program and the supplemental security 
income, SSI, program have many provisions to assist beneficiaries in 
attempting to return to work, but the rules and features of the work 
incentives are complex and can be intimidating. Through the WIPA 
program, SSA makes grants to community-based organizations to provide 
SSDI and SSI disability beneficiaries with assistance in navigating and 
using the return-to-work features. The total budget for the WIPA grant 
program is $23 million a year. Because it is such a large State, 
Montana has two WIPA grantees. The Montana Center for Inclusive 
Education at Montana State University in Billings is the WIPA 
specialist for residents of eastern Montana. Over the last 30 months, 
the WIPA in MSU Billings has served over 100 Montana residents. On the 
western side of the State, the North Central Independent Living 
Services, Inc., near Great Falls runs an innovative program where the 
WIPA grant is dispersed among several Centers for Independent Living in 
order to provide more personal, one-on-one service for residents of 
Montana. That program has served over 220 Montana residents.
  I think the WIPA program should continue. I know many Members of 
Congress agree. I hope the Commissioner will continue these important 
programs as soon as possible. Given the state of the economy today, we 
should not limit important services that can help our constituents who 
want to help themselves by attempting to work.

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