Political Quotes

“I rise to voice my displeasure at the severe reduction this year's Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill includes for the Social Services Block Grant. This program was established under Title XX of the Social Security Act to help people who are least able to help themselves; the elderly, the disabled, and children of low income families. The money is put to good use in some two dozen areas such as foster care services, day care, intervention and prevention for at-risk families, and special services for the disabled. The Labor-HHS Subcommittee has produced a bill that cuts SSBG funds from $1.9 billion to $1 billion. Just short of cutting it in half. The committee report cites tight budget constraints and suggests that states can make up the difference with proceeds from the tobacco settlement. Mr. President, money from the tobacco settlement should be used for anti-smoking programs and other health programs. The basis of that litigation was that smoking caused health problems which the states had paid for. So health care programs that were deprived of funds in the past should be the beneficiaries of the tobacco money, as should anti-smoking programs. We should not tell the states that we're pulling the rug out from under the SSBG and it is up to them to make up the difference if they choose to. Some states have already passed legislation that allocates the tobacco money. The Social Services Block Grant program is an entirely egalitarian program.…”