[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      H.R. 3030--IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT ACT

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                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 10, 2004

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, last week, the House of Representatives passed 
H.R. 3030, Reauthorization of the Community Services Block Grant 
(CSBG). I am a strong supporter of this block grant, as noted in my 
previous remarks on February 4, 2004.
  I am disappointed, however, that H.R. 3030, as passed, failed to 
correct provisions in current law that permit religious organizations 
receiving funds under this Act to discriminate in employment based on 
religion. While these provisions have existed in current law for five 
years, I cannot condone the continuation of discriminatory policies.
  I supported the Democratic substitute offered by my colleagues on the 
Education and the Workforce Committee, Representatives Lynn Woolsey and 
George Miller, that restore basic civil rights for workers while 
ensuring the ongoing participation of faith-based groups in CSBG 
programs. I also supported the Miller amendment to extend the Temporary 
Extended Unemployment Compensation program for an additional six 
months.
  This extension is long overdue given that 8.4 million Americans are 
now unemployed--159,344 in Wisconsin alone--and it is taking longer and 
longer for them to find work. I hear daily from job seekers in my 
district about how difficult it has been to find employment in this 
economy. It is unconscionable that previous attempts to extend aid to 
those who have lost their jobs as a result of this Administration's 
misguided economic policies have been blocked by the majority 
leadership. Passing an extension of this important program has given 
hope to those who have, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs 
in these tough economic times.
  Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the Woolsey amendment did not 
pass and that congressional leadership insists on retaining language 
discriminating against employees at faith-based organizations based on 
religion. Despite these reservations, I supported final passage of H.R. 
3030, as amended by Mr. Miller's unemployment extension amendment, and 
I hope the Senate will pass this important bill quickly to help 
millions of job seekers currently unemployed and looking for work.

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