[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 501 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 501
To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act to restore funding
for the Social Services Block Grant, to restore the ability of States
to transfer up to 10 percent of TANF funds to carry out activities
under such block grant, and to require an annual report on such
activities by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8, 2001
Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Rockefeller, Ms. Snowe, Mr.
Wellstone, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr.
Dodd, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Clinton,
Ms. Landrieu, and Mr. Torricelli) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles IV and XX of the Social Security Act to restore funding
for the Social Services Block Grant, to restore the ability of States
to transfer up to 10 percent of TANF funds to carry out activities
under such block grant, and to require an annual report on such
activities by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Social Services Block Grant
Restoration Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. 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 disabled 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 prevents the need for
inappropriate institutional care which is more costly for
Federal and State programs such as the medicaid, medicare, and
the social security disability benefits programs.
(3) The SSBG helps to further the goals set forth in the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996 (Public Law 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105) by supporting the
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (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 economic 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 promote a safe family environment and encourage
adoption 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-delivered meals, adult
protective services, adult day care, and other essential case
management services provided 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 reporting of elderly abuse and
neglect. The SSBG supports adult protective services that
prevent widespread abuse and neglect of older Americans and
help more than 651,000 elderly individuals in 31 States.
(7) More than 570,000 disabled individuals receive a range
of community-based services and supports nationwide. The SSBG
provides significant resources 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 training, 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 counseling to almost 400,000 adults and children,
case management services for nearly 900,000 families, and the
provision of information and referral assistance 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 communities.
(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 (Public Law 104-193; 110 Stat. 2105) by authorizing
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 3. RESTORATION OF AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER UP TO 10 PERCENT OF TANF
FUNDS TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
(a) In General.--Section 404(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 604(d)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Limitation on amount transferable to title xx
programs.--A State may use not more than 10 percent of the
amount of any grant made to the State under section 403(a) for
a fiscal year to carry out State programs pursuant to title
XX.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) applies
to amounts made available for fiscal year 2002 and each fiscal year
thereafter.
SEC. 4. RESTORATION OF FUNDS FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
(a) In General.--Section 2003(c) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1397b(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
(2) by striking paragraph (11) and inserting the following
new paragraphs:
``(11) $1,725,000,000 for the fiscal year 2001; and
``(12) $2,380,000,000 for the fiscal year 2002 and each
fiscal year thereafter.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect as if included in the enactment of the Departments of
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2001 (as enacted into law by section 1(a)(1) of
Public Law 106-554).
SEC. 5. REQUIREMENT TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 2006(c) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1397e(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
sentence: ``The Secretary shall compile the information submitted by
the States and submit that information 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 2001 and
each fiscal year thereafter.
<all>