I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1470
To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act to restore funding
for the Social Services Block Grant, and restore for fiscal year 2002
the ability of States to transfer up to 10 percent of funds from the
program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy
families to carry out activities under the Social Services Block Grant.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 4, 2001
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut (for herself, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SHAW, Mr.
CARDIN, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. KLECZKA,
Mr. CAMP, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. COYNE, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr.
JEFFERSON, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. WALSH, Mr.
MCNULTY, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. STARK,
Mr. KIRK, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. BALD-
WIN, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mrs.
MORELLA, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. ABERCROMBIE,
Mr. SANDLIN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr.
ALLEN, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCGOVERN,
Ms. SANCHEZ, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. STRICK-
LAND, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr.
BALDACCI, Mr. BARRETT, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. DELAURO,
Mr. ENGEL, Mr. FROST, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr.
HOLDEN, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. LAFALCE,
Ms. LEE, and Ms. PELOSI) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act
to restore funding for the Social Services Block Grant,
and restore for fiscal year 2002 the ability of States
to transfer up to 10 percent of funds from the program
of block grants to States for temporary assistance for
needy families to carry out activities under the Social
Services Block Grant.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since 1975, title XX of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1397 et seq.), commonly referred to
as the Social Services Block Grant (in this section
referred to as ‘‘SSBG’’), has authorized funding for
social services to ensure that at-risk children and
families, the elderly, and physically and mentally dis-
abled individuals remain stable, independent, and
economically self sufficient. In 1981, Congress and
the Reagan Administration converted SSBG into a
block grant designed to give maximum flexibility to
States to serve these fundamental purposes.
(2) Funds provided under the SSBG focus cost-
effective support at the community level that pre-
vents the need for inappropriate institutional care
which is more costly for Federal and State programs
such as the medicaid, medicare, and the social serv-
ices disability benefits programs.
(3) The SSBG helps to further the goals set
forth in the Personal Responsibility and Work Op-
portunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law
104–193; 110 Stat. 2105) by supporting Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and support-
related programs such as on-the-job training, child
care, transportation, counseling, and other services
that facilitate long-term family stability and eco-
nomic self sufficiency.
(4) The SSBG provides essential funding to
many States for child welfare services that support
the goals of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of
1997 (Public Law 105–89; 111 Stat. 2115) to pro-
mote a safe family environment and encourage adop-
tion to move children into stable and permanent
families.
(5) The SSBG helps promote independent living
for vulnerable and low-income elderly individuals by
supporting home care services, including home-deliv-
ered meals, adult protective services, adult day care,
and other essential case management services pro-
vided in every State.
(6) It is reported that 820,000 older Americans
are abused and neglected in this country each year.
There are additional concerns about the under re-
porting of elderly abuse and neglect. The SSBG sup-
ports adult protective services that prevent wide-
spread abuse and neglect of older Americans and
help more than 651,000 elderly individuals in 31
States.
(7) More than 570,000 disabled individuals re-
ceive a range of community-based services and sup-
ports nationwide. The SSBG provides significant re-
sources to fill the funding gaps in the developmental
disabilities system by supporting such services as
early intervention and crisis intervention, adult day
care, respite care, transportation, employment train-
ing, and independent living services in 38 States.
(8) The SSBG supports essential mental health
and related services to ensure that vulnerable adults
and children receive early intervention to prevent
more serious and costly mental health crises in the
future. Such services include the provision of coun-
seling to almost 400,000 adults and children, case
management services for nearly 900,000 families,
and the provision of information and referral assist-
ance to more than 1,300,000 individuals.
(9) There are nearly 3,000,000 reports of child
abuse and neglect each year There are currently
over 300,000 children in the American foster care
system. The SSBG enables the provision of child
protective services to 1,300,000 children, adoption
services to over 150,000 children and families, and
prevention and intervention services to more than
700,000 families.
(10) The SSBG has been eroded by more than
$1,000,000,000 over the last 6 years resulting in
cuts in services in many States and local commu-
nities.
(11) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF) block grants cannot be used to make up
cuts to the SSBG because a large percentage of
SSBG funds are used for the elderly, disabled, and
other populations that are ineligible for TANF
funds.
(12) The 104th Congress made a commitment
to the SSBG in the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 by au-
thorizing the program at $2,380,000,000 through
fiscal year 2002 and returning the authorization for
the program to $2,800,000,000 in fiscal year 2003
and each succeeding fiscal year.
SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER UP TO
10 PERCENT OF TANF FUNDS TO THE SOCIAL
SERVICES BLOCK GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR
2002.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 404(d)(2)(B) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(d)(2)(B)) is amended by
striking ‘‘4.25’’ and inserting ‘‘10’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2001.
SEC. 3. RESTORATION OF FUNDS FOR THE SOCIAL SERV-
ICES BLOCK GRANT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2003(c) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1397b(c)) is amended by striking
paragraphs (10) and (11) and inserting the following:
‘‘(10) $1,775,000,000 for the fiscal year 2000;
‘‘(11) $1,725,000,000 for the fiscal year 2001;
and
‘‘(12) $2,380,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002
and each succeeding fiscal year.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2001.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON
STATE ACTIVITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2006(c) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1397e(c)) is amended by adding at
the end the following: ‘‘The Secretary shall compile the
information submitted by the States and submit that in-
formation to Congress on an annual basis.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by
subsection (a) applies to information submitted by States
under section 2006 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1397e) with respect to fiscal year 2000 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
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