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December 13, 2000
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The Honorable Trent Lott
Senate Majority Leader
S-230 Capitol Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House
2263 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2503 |
Dear Majority Leader Lott and Speaker Hastert:
As the end of the session approaches, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) would like to call your attention to several issues Congress has yet to resolve. Each of these issues is a priority for NCSL and we welcome the opportunity to work with you to address them.
Title XX (Social Services Block Grant)
NCSL strongly supports funding Title XX at the $2.38 billion level agreed to as part of the enactment of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). It is critical that the amount states can transfer from their TANF grants remains at 10%. Please ensure that transfers are not reduced to 4.25%. Title XX is a flexible source of funding that states use to serve their most vulnerable citizens-- the elderly, disabled, and children and families struggling for self-sufficiency. Your support for Title XX would send a clear message to states that the federal government is willing to stand by its decision to grant flexibility to states in administering social programs through block grants. Increased funding will allow states to protect children and the elderly in their own homes rather than in institutions.
Food Stamp Restoration for Legal Immigrants
NCSL urges that funding for restoring food stamp benefits for legal immigrants be included in the final budget agreement. The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act denied Food Stamp benefits to legal immigrant noncitizens and certain refugees. While NCSL was a strong supporter of the 1996 welfare reform law, we opposed this provision. NCSL supports federal funding of Food Stamp benefits for legal immigrants and urges you to end this cost-shift to the states. None of the goals of the TANF program-- promoting self-sufficiency and promoting family stability through work-first, time-limited assistance-- are in any way compromised by providing Food Stamps to legal immigrants.
Child Support/Fatherhood Legislation
NCSL strongly believes that child support enforcement is a state/federal partnership. Changing the distribution system will enhance this partnership and bolster our efforts to reform the welfare system. NCSL has supported giving states more options to pass through child support payments to families who have left the welfare system and those on assistance to ensure that they do not become dependent. Federal cost sharing is critical to ensuring the financial stability of state child support systems. NCSL has been concerned that H.R. 4678, which would change the distribution rules for child support collections, included costly mandates on the states. However, the compromise agreement on H.R. 4678 represents a more flexible approach. Recognizing the importance of having fathers provide financial and emotional support to their children, NCSL appreciates federal efforts to provide grants for fatherhood programs.
Thank you for your leadership on these critical issues. If you have any questions about the issues raised, please contact Sheri Steisel and Lee Posey in our D.C. office. They can be reached by e-mail (sheri.steisel@ncsl.org, lee.posey@ncsl.org) or by phone at (202) 624-5400.
Sincerely,
Senator Jim Costa Senator Stephen Saland
California State Senate New York State Senate
President, NCSL President-elect, NCSL
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