Chuck Grassley: “I rise to comment on the legislation before us, and particularly I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairman…”

“I rise to comment on the legislation before us, and particularly I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairman and ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee, as well as members of that subcommittee, because they have included some very important pieces in this legislation that deal with issues before the Senate Finance Committee of which I am a member. I would like to speak about those provisions and explain some of the subsequent action we anticipate over the next 12 months. This is obviously a very important bill. There are some key provisions in it that relate to the work of the Finance Committee. First, I thank the Appropriations Committee for its action on the social services block grant. Earlier this year, I wrote a letter to the committee leaders requesting that funding for this key program be restored to the levels agreed to in the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. State and local governments rely on this key block grant, that we call the social services block grant, to address a range of human service needs, particularly for vulnerable children, families, elderly, and persons with disabilities. The bill before us would give States needed flexibility to transfer some of the funds they receive under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program to the Social Services Block Grant Program. Many Governors have asked for this flexibility. I am glad that the Appropriations Committee has acted accordingly.”