Government Relations Action Alert

Support Funding for the Social Services Block Grant!

April 10, 2003

THE ISSUE AT HAND

On Wednesday, April 9, the Senate passed S. 476, its version of President Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative, which includes $1.375 billion in new funds for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).  The original version of the bill included “equal treatment” language that would have prohibited the government from requiring faith- based organizations to remove religious art, icons, or scripture from areas where they provide social services, alter their charters, and/or alter religious qualifications for board membership in order to receive federal funds.  In addition, this language would have protected faith-based organizations that received federal funds from anti-discrimination hiring laws.  However, S. 476 does not contain this language.  Instead it is tax bill that calls for $12.7 billion in new tax breaks for charitable giving and additional new money for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).

House Members are expected to introduce their version of the bill after they return from the two-week spring recess that starts Friday, April 11.  Since President Bush is against including an increase in funding for SSBG in this bill, the House bill is expected to be strictly a tax bill, with no additional funding for SSBG.  This means that when the two chambers go to conference to work out the differences in the bills, it will be very difficult to keep the SSBG funding provided by the Senate in the final bill.

ACTION NEEDED

Call or e-mail your Representative and request that he/she support the inclusion of an increase in funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) in any Faith-Based Initiative legislation considered by the House. 

To find the Washington, DC or local number for your Representative, please refer to his/her website at: www.house.gov. 

To send an e-mail to your Representative regarding this issue, please refer to NASW’s Congress Web at: 

https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp

If you make a phone call, please let NASW know at abradford@naswdc.org

BACKGROUND

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible block grant addressing the needs of children and families, the elderly and vulnerable adults.  It enables them to avoid more expensive government assistance by helping them in their efforts to remain in the community in the most independent setting possible. As part of the welfare system’s last reform, Congress and the State Governors agreed to reduce SSBG funding to $2.38 billion for five years, and to return it to its former level of $2.8 billion in 2003.  Unfortunately, the funding level was reduced in 1998 and is currently $1.7 billion a year.  The cut in SSBG funding has driven social-services providers to discontinue services to children, families, the elderly and people with disabilities.  It has also forced them to lay off staff and reduce benefits for vulnerable families. 

On Wednesday, April 9, the Senate passed S. 476, the CARE Act, which includes $12.7 billion in new tax breaks for charitable giving and additional new money for SSBG.  The bad news about the increased SSBG funding is that the Administration released a statement on Wednesday stating: “…the Administration strongly opposes the proposed $275 million and $1.1 billion increases in funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) for fiscal years 2003 and 2004 respectively.  Compared to FY 2002, this would represent a 16% increase in funding in FY 2003 and a 65% increase in funding for FY 2004.  These large increases in SSBG funding far exceed the President’s request and would create significant pressure to extend the 2004 level into the future, costing $11 billion over ten years if made permanent.”  Because the President is opposed to including this funding increase in the bill, the House bill is not expected to include it. 

For more detailed background information on the Senate-passed CARE Act, please refer to NASW’s update: https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/issues/faith.asp.

You may also contact Ann Bradford, Senior Government Relations Associate at 202-336-8237 or abradford@naswdc.org.