Date: 1981-11-20
Speaker: JOHN BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. this amendment would provide for what our colleague. the gentleman from Vermont talked aboutthe ability to continue the employment progam for the elderly. Mr. Chairman. this amendment would provide for forward funding to continue for the jobs program for the elderly. which is one of the few Jobs programs and the only jobs program in this act. I would like to commend both the chairman. the gentleman from Kentucky . the ranking member. the gentleman from Ohio . as well as the gentleman from North Carolina . and the gentleman from Wisconsin for the work they have done on this bill. It is my understanding that the amendment is accepted both by the chairman and the subcommittee chairman as well as the ranking member. Mr. Chairman. this amendment does not affect the committees intent to bring the bills authorization levels in line with the Budget Reconciliation Act. My amendment simply writes into law the forwardfunding mechanism which the Appropriations Committee and the Department of Labor have used in title V for over 5 years. I should note that the Budget Reconciliation Act and the House appropriations bill include the full amount needed to continue advance funding for title V. Title V provides work and wages to over 54.200 lowincome older workers. These workers perform important public services that communities otherwise might not be able to afford. These services include work In senior centers. day care for children. weatherization programs. and public libraries and schools. Over the years. both the older workers and local communities have come to rely on the title V program. This reliance will increase as other State and federally funded service programs are cut back. It is imperative that the program continue to assure older workers an uninterrupted income and their communities a steady source of supplemental public services. But the programs success depends on the advance planning which Is made possible by forward funding. IForwardfunding insures that there will be no Interruptions In title V Jobs even when Congress does not complete appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year. Most title V sponsors are nonprofit organizations which cannot afford to carry these jobs on their own budgets if appropriations are delayed. Without advance funding. the older people in these jobs might be laid off every time appropriations were late. Many workers would suffer because they need their title V wages to make ends meet. We would risk their economic security If we did not guarantee continued forwardfunding for title V. This amendment Is supported by the seven national title V. sponsorsNational Farmers Union. National Council of Senior Citizens. the National Retired Teachers Association/American Association of Retired Persons (NRTA/AARP). the National Council on the Aging. Inc. (NCOA). National Urban League. National Association Pro SpanishSpeaking Elderly and National Center for Black Agedand by the National Association of State units on Aging. which represents State agencies that also sponsor the program. I hope that the gentleman from North Carolina . who has done such a fine Job on the reauthorization bill. has no objection to my amendment. 1 will explain the reasons for this amendment The Senate appropriation voted to eliminate the forward funding In the senior citizens service employment. program which would threaten the continuity of the 54.000 parttime jobs for lowincome older Americans. We can protect this program by this amendment. It Is consistent with our budget reconciliation stand. It is consistent with the appropriation program that would guarantee there would be no Interruption of the prograin. I know that Mr. PETRI. and I would be happy to yield to the gentleman If he had a question on this: other than that. I know of no opposition to the amendment. except for a question as to why this program would be treated differently. The answer to that Is that this is the only Jobs program that Is provided. Without forward funding. the Jobs would be eliminated by the Senate action.