WASHINGTON - Republicans on the Ways and Means Committee have put forward legislation - to be voted on in Committee Wednesday - to permanently eliminate the Social Services Block Grant program, jeopardizing vital support for children, the elderly and the disabled to help pay for tax cuts for the very wealthy. The program’s elimination accounts for 100 percent of the 2013 savings within the Ways and Means Republicans Reconciliation target, despite Chairman Camp having repeatedly supported the program in the past. In order to pay for their out-of-balance budget, House Republicans seem to believe the most vulnerable populations -- including children, seniors, and disabled Americans -- should be the first to sacrifice.
What’s at stake in the proposal to eliminate the program, which provides $1.7 billion to states annually:
* Child care and related assistance for 4.4 million children
* Meals on wheels and other home-based services for nearly 1.7 million older Americans
* Child protective services for 1.8 million at-risk children
* Transportation, respite care and other services for nearly 1 million disabled individuals
In total, roughly 23 million Americans now receive services funded through the Social Services Block Grant. Find out how much each state is receiving here.
Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin: “In their zeal to cut taxes for the very wealthy, House Republicans continue to put the burden on the backs of children, the elderly, and the disabled. Tomorrow’s markup is another example of the ongoing Republican war on all populations, including the most vulnerable, while they seek to benefit the very wealthy."
