Rep. Doggett: It is abused and neglected children who will pay the price of cutting the SSBG program

Statesare also making cutbacks. If these funds are not available—it is these abusedand neglected children who will pay the price for it. There are some 39states that rely on these funds for child abuse and neglect prevention.

Ialso think that the big emphasis with this block grant in many states is onindependence—not only the independence of the states being able to select howthey want to use the resources, but also the independence of the individuals,whether it is a senior who gets one of those rural Meals on Wheels or it is anindividual with disabilities who needs additional assistance to be able to liveindependently of institutionalized care.

Weall know as well in our communities that we are called upon, regardless ofpolitical affiliation or philosophy, to get behind the many worthy localefforts happening to support our most vulnerable neighbors. As importantas those efforts are, so many of those groups are relying on federal funds tomeet some part of their mission.

Onegroup that contacted us is Easter Seals that does wonderful work with childrenwith disabilities. Easter Seal affiliates throughout the countrysay that to provide quality services to support the independence of people withdisabilities, they rely upon the Social Services Block Grant program. Ithink this is true whether it is the National Foster Care Coalition, the Arc,Women's Law Center, American Public Health Services Association, Child WelfareLeague—one organization after another realizes the impact if this program iseliminated.

Theremay be better ways to do it—I suggested to my colleagues who were critical ofthe broad unaccountable discretion given to the states with reference to thisblock grant program, that if it was too broad, we ought to put additionalstandards in. But it looks to me like at a time of great budget difficulty,most states are making effective use of these funds. I think it would be aserious mistake to eliminate them at this time while at the same time claimingthat the solution to our national problems lies in block granting moreprograms.

Indeed,one would think from looking at the block grant effort today for some programsand the elimination of this block grant program that has been in effect sinceRonald Reagan's day with bipartisan support, that the real approach is to firstblock grant and then to cut—like repeal and replace. And the effect on somany families and so many individuals is a very harsh and un-American one thatwe don't have to do. There are other ways for all Americans to gettogether and support the budget restraint we need without putting so much of iton the most vulnerable citizens.