Rae Oliver Davis: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, including the provision to end the…”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, including the provision to end the duplicative Social Services Block Grant. As chairman of the Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee, we held a hearing last year on duplicative programs such as SSBG. Despite what we have heard from some on the other side, our concern is focused squarely on the design of the SSBG program, which does not serve taxpayers well for a number of reasons. SSBG is duplicative and unfocused. It supports 29 different types of social services with no eligibility requirements. The Federal Government already spends $446 billion per year on other social services programs, which is about 260 times the amount of SSBG spending. With no State spending requirements or accountability for results, SSBG is more akin to stimulus dollars than other more effective anti-poverty programs. With staggering deficits, we can't afford to send money to States without accountability through a program that is replicated by literally dozens of other Federal programs. That's what SSBG does today, and it is why it makes sense to end this duplicative program. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 1 minute.”