"Congress consistently has cut this funding to pay for other things," Grassley said. "It's time that we restore funding to the level we authorized in 1996. Without this funding, important services that protect children, the elderly and the disabled won't be provided. I urge my colleagues to restore necessary funding to these critical services."
Grassley joined Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Jim Jeffords (R-Vt.) in introducing legislation that would restore funding to Title XX, the Social Services Block Grant. The program is funded at $1.8 billion this year. This bill seeks to restore funding to $2.38 billion, the level authorized in 1996. The Senate Appropriations Committee just voted to cut the program further, to $600 million. Grassley also fought for increased funding during the budget process.
Grassley said the Social Services Block Grant allows states the flexibility to fill in funding gaps in their human services system. Through this funding, states, local governments and non-profit organizations can supplement other federal programs and leverage additional funding and resources to support an array of social service programs that are critical to those in need, Grassley said.
Millions of elderly people have benefited from Title XX, as have hundreds of thousands of individuals with disabilities, Grassley said. States use these funds to help support crucial services such as respite care for the elderly, adult protective services, supported living and transportation for the disabled. In recent years, more than a quarter of these funds have been used to support children's services. Child protective services, foster care and adoption programs have all been supplemented with these funds.
Grassley said the state of Iowa uses Social Services Block Grant funds to supplement numerous service programs. One program uses these funds to help transport individuals with developmental disabilities to their jobs and to medical appointments. Funds are also used to help people with disabilities live in their communities, saving significant amounts of money that would otherwise go to caring for them in institutions, Grassley said.
"It's important that we fully fund good programs serving people in need," Grassley said. "Peace of mind can come from access to quality services."