LEGISLATIVE ALERT
May 15, 1997
ASK YOUR SENATORS TO REMOVE THE GRAMS PROVISION
ISSUE: The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing , and Urban Affairs passed the Public Housing and Responsibility Act of 1997, S. 462, which includes a provision, sponsored by Senator Rod Grams (R-MN), requiring each applicant for public housing to consent to disclosure of medical information about his or her alcohol or drug abuse use and treatment, as a condition of renting public housing or receiving section 8 assistance. The bill is expected to go to the Senate floor for a vote soon. Calls to Senators are needed by Friday, July 11th, urging that they remove the Grams provision from the bill.
WHY IMPORTANT TO SOCIAL WORKERS:
- Health care providers would be inundated with requests for information and forced to make available confidential medical information to public housing agencies.
- Individuals with alcohol and drug problems would be deterred from seeking treatment.
- The Grams provisions would override existing federal laws designed to protect the confidentiality of alcohol and drug treatment records.
- Violates NASW’s Code of Ethics related to informed consent and privacy and confidentiality.
ACTION NEEDED: Call or send a fax or e-mail to your Senators asking them to remove the Grams provision from the public housing bill S. 462, requiring public housing applicants to consent to the disclosure of health information on substance abuse use and treatment It is particularly important if you have a Senator on the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. Democratic committee members did not oppose this provision. They need to hear from you.
Members of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee:
Republicans: D’Amato, Chair (NY), Gramm (TX), Shelby (AL), Mack (FL), Faircloth (NC), Bennett (UT), Grams (MN), Allard (CO), Enzi (WY), Hagel (NE)
Democrats: Sarbanes (MD), Dodd (CT), Kerry (MA), Bryan (NV), Boxer (CA), Moseley-Braun (IL), Johnson (SD), Reed (RI)
By Telephone: Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for Senator’s office.
By Fax/E-Mail: Call individual congressional offices for fax numbers and e-mail addresses. Address letter to The Honorable (first name, last name); United States Senate; Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator (last name).
By Telegram: Western Union, 1-800-325-6000.
TIMING: Contact your Senators by Friday, July 11th.
QUESTIONS: If you have questions, please call Madeleine Golde at 1-800-638-8799, ext 237 or e-mail at mailto:mgolde@naswdc.org. Send copies of letters to Madeleine.