James M. Jeffords: “I rise to commend Chairman Stevens, Chairman Roth, and Chairman Specter for their commitment to working in conference to…”

“I rise to commend Chairman Stevens, Chairman Roth, and Chairman Specter for their commitment to working in conference to restore funding to the Social Services Block Grant (Title XX), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). These programs provide a vital safety net for our most vulnerable citizens. The Social Services Block Grant program provides critical services for abused children, low-income seniors, and other families in need of assistance. For example, my own State of Vermont uses 80 percent of its Title XX funds to help abused and neglected children. Much of this money goes to assist the roughly 300 children in foster care in our State. This block grant was created under the Reagan Administration to provide States with a source of flexible funding to meet a variety of human service needs. It was the success of the Social Services Block Grant that paved the way for welfare reform. When welfare reform was passed, Congress made several agreements with the states. One such agreement was that funds for the Social Services Block Grant would be reduced to $2.38 billion with States permitted to transfer up to 10 percent of allocated TANF funds into the block grant to 'make up the difference.' Since making that agreement in 1996, Congress and the Administration have repeatedly cut the funds appropriated for the Block Grant to its current year funding level of $1.775 billion.”